Leaven And Leavening Agents

God uses leaven to symbolize sin, 1 Corinthians 5:1-8. Sin puffs us up and grows with in us spiritually just as physical leaven puffs up bread dough. God uses unleavened bread to symbolize a sinless life.

God tells us we are to put leavening agents as well as any leavened product out of our homes by the First Day of Unleavened Bread and keep it out for seven days. We are not to eat leavened food during that time. Exodus 12:15-17; Exodus 13:6-7; and Leviticus 23:6-8. To understand exactly what is included in the leaven we are to avoid during the Days of Unleavened Bread, we must understand what is meant by "leaven".

Leavening agents are substances that are used to puff up or produce fermentation, causing dough to rise. Yeast, bicarbonate of soda (baking soda), and baking powder are such substances. Leavening can also refer to "sourdough" a naturally fermenting yeast batter. Foods that can contain the above leavening agents are bread, rolls, buns, cakes, some crackers, pancakes, waffles, doughnuts, certain cookies, cereals, etc. If you are in doubt about any product, check the list of ingredients. When you are not sure about a particular food -- don't eat it.

EGG WHITES are not considered to be a leavening agent.

YEAST EXTRACT on the labels of certain foods are derivatives of yeast that cannot leaven anything. It would be all right to use a product containing yeast extracts providing it does not contain an actual leavening agent.

BREWERS YEAST is a food supplement that contains all the elements of the B vitamin complex. It has no leavening properties.

CREAM OF TARTAR is not a leavening agent.

God tells us we must eat unleavened bread instead of leavened bread for seven days. Some stores carry unleavened bread and crackers. Always check the ingredients on the label to be sure. Just because a food looks unleavened, it still may contain a leavening agent. Perhaps you may enjoy making your own, bread by going here or here.

FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF LEAVENING AGENTS

baker's ammonia = ammonium carbonate = baking ammonia = hartshorn 
baker's yeast 
baking powder = baking soda = bicarbonate of soda = sodium bicarbonate 
bicarbonate of soda
double-acting baking powder = double-action baking powder 
hartshorn
single-acting baking powder = single-action baking powder 
sodium bicarbonate
sourdough starter 
yeast

NOTICE:  Brewer's Yeast, Torula Yeast and Yeast Extract are not leavening agents.  Egg whites are also NOT leavening agents.  Autolyzed yeast and cornstarch are also not leavening agents.  Autolyzed yeast is used as a flavor enhancer and cannot be used for making bread.

MORE INFO BELOW

1. Beer and Grain Alcohol

   • Beer and grain alcohols are made using grains and yeasts, which are leavening agents.

   Yeast

   • Yeast converts sugars into carbon dioxide and alcohol by products, creating bubbles which raise dough. Yeast is often included in many baked goods like bread, as well as alcohol. Buns, cakes, cookies, crackers, cereals, pancakes, doughnuts and waffles may all contain yeast.

   Baking Powder

   • Baking powder is added to baked goods like cakes and cookies to provide lift in the dough. Baking powder may be double acting or single acting. Double acting baking powder leavens when heated and when wet, whereas single acting baking powder only reacts to liquid.

   Baking Soda

   • Baking soda may also be called bicarbonate soda, bread soda or sodium bicarbonate. It is used in many baked goods like biscuits, cookies, cakes and breads.

   Baker's Ammonia

   • Baking ammonia is use to leaven cookies such as gingerbread cookies. Baker's ammonia may also be called bicarbonate of ammonia or ammonia carbonate. Baking ammonia has a strong smell and flavor, therefore it is typically used in cookies and baked goods that are small in size so that the taste and odor is less strong.

   Sourdough Starter

   • Sourdough starter is leavening used for making sourdough breads.

   Grains

   • Most food made from grains is prepared with leavening agents. Wheat, rye, oats an barely are common grains.

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Shalom, blessings to you all.