Which does mold grow faster on dry or moist bread?

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2001

Answers

Water activity is the measurement of free water that is available in a given food product. Water activity directly relates to how viable a food is to microbial growth. If you are a microbe, namely a mold, you have the option of living on a moist piece of white bread or a dry crouton. While these microbes might not have a conversation and weigh the choice out in a conscious manner, the ones that land on a moist food source likely will proliferate, while the others do not survive. If they indeed do grow, they show up as mold.

The details of this process have to do with osmosis and the ability of a microbe to obtain enough water to carry out it's life function. If you wish to learn more on this consult a good food science or biology text on the "Water Activity" topic.

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2001

Actually in Science fair I am doing an experiment on bread mold. feel free to email me and help me out. I am only 11.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001