
Storage Conditions and Bread Mold Growth
Easy
Which storage method keeps bread mold-free the longest? You place five slices of bread in five different environments:
- Dampened with water drops in a dark spot
- Left out at room temperature
- Set under direct sunlight
- Sealed in an airtight bag
- Stored in a refrigerator
You check each slice daily with a magnifying glass and record the first day mold appears. The damp, dark slice molds fastest. The refrigerated slice holds out the longest.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis is that bread mold will grow faster in a warm and damp environment.
Method & Materials
You will prepare 5 slices of bread in different ways and observe them daily to see if any mold grows.
You will need 5 slices of bread, some water, an airtight plastic bag, a refrigerator, and a magnifying glass.
Results
The experiment showed that the bread slice with a few drops of water and kept in the dark space had started to grow mold the fastest. The bread slice that was kept in the refrigerator took the longest for the mold to appear.
Why do this project?
This science project is interesting because it shows how different environments can affect the growth of bread mold.
Also Consider
Variations of this experiment could include storing bread in bags of different materials (plastic, paper, cloth) or repeating the experiment with different types of food like biscuits or cooked rice (foods with different amounts of moisture).
Full project details
Additional information and source material for this project are available below.Related videos
These videos explain the science behind this project and demonstrate key concepts used in the experiment.
It's inspiring to see these students taking matters into their own hands by conducting experiments to address the issue of their bread getting moldy too quickly at home.
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