Why Is Potato Bread Yellow? - Chowhound (2024)

ByAlicia Betz

Why Is Potato Bread Yellow? - Chowhound (4)

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Potato bread is a delicious bread variety that's moist, fluffy, slightly sweet, and usually yellow. Potato bread dough is often made into rolls and buns and then used as a delicious way to elevate sandwiches. You can even try it out as your bread of choice the next time you make an egg salad sandwich. Mashed potatoes are the secret to the moisture and fluffiness in this bread, but what is it that gives potato bread its distinctive yellow color? The answer isn't cut and dry, as there are many reasons why your potato bread might be yellow.

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There are quite a few ingredients that can affect the color of potato bread, but typically there are four that may contribute to the yellow color: eggs, potatoes, artificial food colorings, and natural food dyes. Thankfully for many people who try to avoid artificial colorings, it doesn't appear that most commercial bakeries still use these in their potato bread.

Eggs and potatoes affect the color

Why Is Potato Bread Yellow? - Chowhound (5)

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Many basic bread recipes call for water, yeast, sugar, salt, oil, and flour. These recipes don't require eggs. In contrast, most potato bread recipesuse eggs, which can affect the color of the bread (thanks to their yellow-orange yolks). Similar to potato bread,brioche and challah– which also use eggs — also often have a slightly yellow color to them. The potatoes in potato bread (as well as the potato variety) also contribute to the yellow color of potato bread. Some types of potatoes, such as Yukon Gold, for example, have a natural yellow color.

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However, many potato recipes also specifically call for russet potatoes, which aren't quite as yellow in color. In this case, the coloring likely comes from other ingredients. Regardless of the type of potato you use, the potatoes will usually be mashed before being added to the recipe, which allows the yellow color to permeate the whole piece of bread.

Artificial colorings and natural food dyes

Why Is Potato Bread Yellow? - Chowhound (6)

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These days, most bread companies use natural dyes instead of artificial food colorings.Until 2014, the Martin's brand used artificial colorings like FD&C Yellow #5 & #6 to give their bread that yellow color. But then they switched to using natural dyes.

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The potato bread brand Martin'slists turmeric and annatto — spices that can be used as natural dyes in food — as coloring ingredients in its potato bread. Many other brands do the same. For example, Oroweat Country Potato Bread and Stroehmann Dutch Country Premium Potato Breadboth use turmeric and annatto. Other brands, likeSchmidt Old Tyme Potato Bread, use paprika and turmeric for color. These ingredients are added simply for coloring because when somebody buys potato bread, they expect it to be yellow. Typically, recipes for homemade bread don't include turmeric and annatto.

It's important to note that these natural colorings are susceptible to sunlight, temperature, and humidity, which means the color might fade over time. Regardless of where the color comes from, it's worth giving potato bread a try next time you need some soft dinner rolls or sandwich bread.

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Why Is Potato Bread Yellow? - Chowhound (2024)

FAQs

Why is potato bun yellow? ›

There are quite a few ingredients that can affect the color of potato bread, but typically there are four that may contribute to the yellow color: eggs, potatoes, artificial food colorings, and natural food dyes.

What makes yellow bread yellow? ›

Because of its resistance to milling, durum is appropriate for the production of semola or semolina, an endosperm-rich flour product, containing coarse-grained particles. Semola has a yellow/golden colour that reflects the high content of β-carotene in durum endosperm.

Is potato sourdough bread healthy? ›

So if you're on a limited-calorie diet, or trying to avoid carbs, eating this bread will likely not fit in with your diet. However, if you're looking to simply increase your vitamin, mineral, and fiber consumption, potato bread is an excellent way to sneak in more of these healthy micronutrients.

Is potato bun better than regular bun? ›

If you want to make your burgers extra special, you might want to consider using potato buns instead of regular buns. Their pillowy-soft insides make them fluffier and bouncier than your average burger bun.

Why is my potato so yellow? ›

If the potato has a yellow or red skin, it is a waxy potato. Common varieties of yellow are Yukon gold, German Butterball and Banana. Common varieties of reds are Red Bliss, French Fingerling, Red Gold and Red Norland. Waxy potatoes all share the qualities of being thin skinned and high in moisture content.

What color is potato bun? ›

Potato buns and rolls are golden coloured, super light and airy with a soft texture that is ideal for burgers. Different types of potatoes and potato flours along with wheat flour are used to make the dough for this super light burger buns.

Why is my sourdough yellow? ›

The yellowish clear liquid that forms on the top of the starter is normal. This is referred to as “hootch”. It is a natural separation that occurs when the starter is entering a semi-dormant state. The hootch has a pungent alcohol smell and taste, and, in part, contributes to the flavour of your sourdough starter.

What flour makes bread yellow? ›

Durum wheat is rich in carotenoid pigments, bringing a highly desirable bright yellow color to pasta and bread.

Why is my bread yellow instead of white? ›

Home made bread is often yellowish - that's the natural colour of the flour. Very white bread like you get in the shops is produced by very intensive, fast mixing, which gives a fluffy texture, and also introduces a lot of air.

Is it OK to eat sourdough bread everyday? ›

Health benefits of sourdough. The type of flour used — all-purpose, whole wheat, rye — can affect the nutritional content of sourdough bread, says Wee. But generally speaking, sourdough bread is a healthy option and can be eaten regularly as part of a nutritious, balanced diet.

What is the healthiest bread to eat? ›

Next time you're at the store, look for the following options to find a healthy bread you like.
  • Wholegrain bread. Wholegrain bread is minimally processed and made with flour from fully intact grains. ...
  • Multigrain bread. ...
  • Dark rye bread. ...
  • Authentic sourdough bread. ...
  • Flaxseed, or linseed, bread. ...
  • Ezekiel, or sprouted grain, bread.
Mar 19, 2024

Why is potato bread so good? ›

The potatoes add moisture and starch to the bread, which makes it moist and tender. Potato bread is a great choice for sandwiches, toast, or just eating plain. This from-scratch version is way better than store-bought!

Does Burger King use a potato bun? ›

To Any Burger.

Why does potato bread last so long? ›

The starch molecules in potatoes contain negatively charged phosphates that deter them from recombining, and diluting flour with potato makes it harder for the wheat starches to crystallize as well. The net effect? Potato breads stay soft much longer.

What is the best bun for a hamburger? ›

The Best Hamburger Buns
  • Ciabatta Roll. The thick crust of Italian-style ciabatta provides structure for even the juiciest of burgers. ...
  • English Muffin. Round and sturdy, the English muffin seems designed for burgers. ...
  • Kaiser Roll. ...
  • Onion Roll. ...
  • Potato Roll. ...
  • Pretzel Roll. ...
  • Sesame Seed Bun. ...
  • Sliced Bread.

What makes burger buns yellow? ›

The type 1 whole wheat flour is blended with the strong yellow shades of turmeric, an Asian spice that results from the root pulverisation of its plant.

What makes a potato bun different? ›

Because potatoes contain potassium, the buns rise quicker than those breads with only wheat inside. The moist texture comes from the potato starch and its ability to absorb more water. The potato also gives it a longer shelf life, as the starch molecules protect it from going stale.

What is the yellow pigment in potatoes? ›

These studies indicate that carotenoids in pigmented potatoes are cultivar-, pigment-, intensity-, and environment-dependent. The yellow-pigmented cultivars are generally higher in carotenoids in comparison to other cultivars, and more so, the white-fleshed type and lutein appear to dominate these compounds.

Are Discoloured potatoes safe to eat? ›

This process, which is called oxidation, happens because potatoes are a naturally starchy vegetable. And when exposed to oxygen, starches turn gray, brown, or even black. An oxidized potato is completely safe to eat. The process doesn't affect the flavor or texture of the vegetable.

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