Is bread vegetarian? Here’s the good news – the answer is usually yes! The basic ingredients of bread are flour, water, salt and yeast, all of which are suitable for vegetarians. However, there are some exceptions.
Which bread is vegan?
Ready to carbo load? Good luck to you! Most of the bread aisles at your local grocery store are probably vegetarian—bagels, sliced ​​bread, loaves, many rolls and buns, pita bread, flatbread, and more! So what are you waiting for? Go to town with a loaf of bread. Be sure to check the ingredients first.
Common non-vegan ingredients in bread
Unfortunately, not all bread is plant-based. Some may be made with dairy, egg wash, or a cheesy topping, so it’s important to check the ingredients before you buy. One of the easiest ways to do this is to check the allergy warning below its ingredients list. “Contains milk” or “contains eggs” should be clearly listed there. You can also scan the full list for these non-vegan ingredients:
- Casein: Protein found in cow’s milk
- Caseinates: A compound derived from casein
- Sodium caseinate: A compound derived from casein
- Whee: The remaining liquid after milking is curdled and strained
- cream
- the milk
- the egg
Possible non-vegan ingredients in bread
- Mono- and diglycerides: Glycerides that can be plant-based or derived from animal fat (it’s impossible to know which without contacting the manufacturer, so it may be best to avoid this ingredient.)
- Lecithin: Blends of fats are found in many products, including egg yolks, sunflower, soybeans, milk, fish, animal fat, canola seed, and cottonseed (plant-based versions like soy lecithin are vegan.)
- DATEM (Diacetyl tartaric ester of monoglyceride): An emulsifier is sometimes used to strengthen the gluten network of the dough (although DATEM is often vegetarian, it may contain animal fat.)
There you have it! We hope this information helps you feel confident in your favorite plant-based breads. Hungry for more information? Check out this beginners guide to cooking tofu!