The Energy Consumption of Food Processes.
Bread has been around for centuries and the process of creating it has been mastered. Obviously, this process expends a lot of energy in many different forms.
The main ingredient in bread is the flour of wheat. Wheat is milled for converting into flour by processes producing essentially the same results, all requiring cleansing, grinding, and bolting. Grinding is accomplished by one of four systems: low milling; Hungarian system, or high milling; roller milling; and by a machine known as a disintegrator. Each of these processes uses energy to grind the wheat into the fine, white powder we know as wheat. Bolting is also a process that requires energy. This process sifts the flour into different concentrations by a large machine with a rotating arm.
Yeast is used to raise the bread. Milk is added as well. Milk must be drawn from a cow, pasteurized, and delivered to the place where the bread will be made. The dough is then kneaded which can be done by hand so the ingredients can be mixed. The dough is shaped by hand or with tools into loaves. .
The dough is then placed into a hot oven. A hot oven may be using gas or it could be wood burning. The bread is baked and taken out of the oven when it has properly risen. .
The final energy used in the making of bread is enjoying the fresh taste of warm bread. This requires letting the loaf cool so that one does not burn the roof of their mouth. Obviously, bread making is a process that includes many different types of energy.
