Evaluation of the usage of spontaneous fermentation sourdough starters and their influence on the quality indicators of wheat bread

Keywords:

Bread products, sourdough starters, wine yeast, spontaneous fermentation, quality indicators

Synopsis

The limited availability of production laboratories at mini-enterprises, as well as outdated regulatory approaches to quality control which do not fully meet the modern range of bakery products, technological solutions, and consumer demands, significantly complicate the implementation of innovative technologies in the industry.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using and the effect of spontaneous fermentation sourdough, prepared in two different ways (dry and liquid starters based on wine yeast) on the quality indicators of wheat bread.

In the process of forming requirements to the quality of wheat bread, the physical, chemical, and biotechnological indicators of dry and liquid sourdough were determined; their sensory characteristics were evaluated.

As a result of the test baking, the quality indicators of wheat bread made using spontaneous fermentation starters based on wine yeast were evaluated.

Bread samples prepared with 5% and 7% of sourdough to the weight of flour, and control bread prepared without sourdough were compared in terms of shelf life and sensory properties. The dough preparation technology provides for a leaven-free method, with thick and liquid leaven; control samples were prepared using traditional technology. The addition of sourdough significantly affected the specific volume and porosity and slowed the loss of moisture during storage. Sensory properties improved compared to the control samples. Using 7% of liquid sourdough gave the most effective results.

The obtained results substantiate the technological feasibility of using the studied spontaneous fermentation sourdough starters in the production of bread products and demonstrate their potential for improving their quality indicators. Technologies and methodologies are recommended for mini-enterprises and craft bakeries.

References

Semko, T., Pahomska, E. (2023). Innovative craft bakery technologies. Modern Engineering and Innovative Technologies, 27–01, 68–73. https://doi.org/10.30890/2567-5273.2023-27-01-013

Park, M.-j. (2026). Bread industry statistics. Gitnux. Available at: https://gitnux.org/bread-industry-statistics/

Dong, Y., Karboune, S. (2021). A review of bread qualities and current strategies for bread bioprotection: Flavor, sensory, rheological, and textural attributes. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, 20 (2), 1937–1981. https://doi.org/10.1111/1541-4337.12717

Ribet, L., Kassis, A., Jacquier, E., Monnet, C., Durand-Dubief, M., Bosco, N. (2024). The nutritional contribution and relationship with health of bread consumption: a narrative review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 65 (28), 5698–5725. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2024.2428593

Armstrong, A. (2025). The truth about bread: Why your ancestors could digest it (and why you might not). Mercola. Available at: https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2025/03/18/the-truth-about-bread.aspx

Akamine, I. T., Mansoldo, F. R. P., Vermelho, A. B. (2023). Probiotics in the Sourdough Bread Fermentation: Current Status. Fermentation, 9 (2), 90. https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9020090

Cherednichenko, V. (2025). Actualization of mini bakeries as a modern business model of small entrepreneurship in the bakery industry of Ukraine during the wartime period. Investytsiyi Praktyka ta Dosvid, 3, 168–174. https://doi.org/10.32702/2306-6814.2025.3.168

Dzyundzya, O., Antonenko, A., Brovenko, T., Tolok, G., Kryvoruchko, M., Bozhko, T. et al. (2022). Technology of craft confiture from non-traditional local raw materials. Eastern-European Journal of Enterprise Technologies, 5 (11 (119)), 48–54. https://doi.org/10.15587/1729-4061.2022.265201

Nederlandse Vereniging voor de Bakkerij. Available at: https://www.nedverbak.nl/

Fedima. Available at: https://www.fedima.org/

Shewry, P. R. (2018). Do ancient types of wheat have health benefits compared with modern bread wheat? Journal of Cereal Science, 79, 469–476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcs.2017.11.010

Ribet, L., Dessalles, R., Lesens, C., Brusselaers, N., Durand-Dubief, M. (2023). Nutritional benefits of sourdoughs: A systematic review. Advances in Nutrition, 14 (1), 22–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advnut.2022.10.003

Kimbell, V. (2015). The history of sourdough bread. The Sourdough School. Available at: https://www.sourdough.co.uk/the-history-of-sourdough-bread/

Bread and Heritage. Available at: https://www.bread-initiative.eu/about-bread/bread-and-cultural-heritage/

Lahue, C., Madden, A. A., Dunn, R. R., Smukowski Heil, C. (2020). History and Domestication of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in Bread Baking. Frontiers in Genetics, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2020.584718

Arranz-Otaegui, A., Gonzalez Carretero, L., Ramsey, M. N., Fuller, D. Q., Richter, T. (2018). Archaeobotanical evidence reveals the origins of bread 14,400 years ago in northeastern Jordan. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115 (31), 7925–7930. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1801071115

Cavalieri, D., McGovern, P. E., Hartl, D. L., Mortimer, R., Polsinelli, M. (2003). Evidence for S. cerevisiae Fermentation in Ancient Wine. Journal of Molecular Evolution, 57, 226–232. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00239-003-0031-2

Mykolenko, S., Lebedenko, T., Ziubrovskyi, A.; Garcia-Vaquero, M., Pastor, K., Orhun, G. E., McElhatton, A., Rocha, J. M. F. (Eds.) (2023). Traditional Ukrainian Bread Making. Traditional European Breads. Cham: Springer, 389–418. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-23352-4_18

Videiko, M. Yu. (2011). Podorozh do pradavnoi krainy. Kyiv: Vyshcha shkola, 167. Available at: http://irbis-nbuv.gov.ua/ulib/item/UKR0009448

Hlushko, M. (2012). Pokhodzhennia ta dzherela vchynenoho khliba v ukraintsiv (kulturno-henetychnyi aspekt). Narodoznavchi zoshyty, 1, 3–18. Available at: http://nbuv.gov.ua/UJRN/NaZo_2012_1_3

Artiukh, L. F. (1977). Ukrainska narodna kulinariia: Istoryko-etnohrafichne doslidzhennia. Kyiv: Naukova dumka, 139. Available at: https://archive.org/details/artyukh1977

Sumtsov, M. F. (1918). Slobozhane: Istorychno-etnohrafichna rozvidka. Kharkiv: Vydavnytstvo «Soiuz», 160. Available at: https://history.sumy.ua/research/books/350-mykolasumtsovslobozhaneistorykoetnohrafichnarozvidka1918rik.html

Cherfas, J. (2020). The Worst Thing Since Sliced Bread: the Chorleywood Bread Process. Dublin Gastronomy Symposium. https://doi.org/10.21427/99cm-eb95

Haidarzhy, V. (2023). V seli Kubei vyhotovliaiut vynni drizhdzhi za prababusynym retseptom. Makhala. Available at: https://mahala.com.ua/aktualne/v-seli-kubey-vyhotovliaiut-vynni-drizhdzhi-za-prababusynym-retseptom-video/

Kovana, O. O. (2021). Tekhnolohichni pryiomy pidvyshchennia yakosti urozhaiu ta produktiv pererobky sortiv i form vynohradu novoi selektsii NNTs "IViV im. V. Ye. Tairova" [Extended abstract of PhD thesis; Instytut vynohradarstva i vynorobstva imeni V. Ye. Tairova].

Benito-Castellanos, A., Larreina, B., Banda, M. T. C. de L., Santamaría, P., González-Arenzana, L., Gutiérrez, A. R. (2025). Biodiversity of Yeast Species Isolated During Spontaneous Fermentation: Influence of Grape Origin, Vinification Conditions, and Year of Study. Microorganisms, 13 (7), 1707. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13071707

Betlej, G., Bator, E., Oklejewicz, B., Potocki, L., Górka, A., Slowik-Borowiec, M. et al. (2020). Long-Term Adaption to High Osmotic Stress as a Tool for Improving Enological Characteristics in Industrial Wine Yeast. Genes, 11 (5), 576. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11050576

Lebedenko, T. Ye., Pshenyshniuk, H. F., Sokolova, N. Yu. (2014). Tekhnolohiia khlibopekarskoho vyrobnytstva: Praktykum. Odesa: Osvita Ukrainy, 392. Available at: https://card-file.ontu.edu.ua/server/api/core/bitstreams/06a22579-95d8-4db5-9af9-38cf1b4ea5f4/content

Lebedenko, T. Y., Tkachuk, O., Kananykhina, O., Brovenko, T. V. (2026). Research on the prospects of using wine yeasts for the production of wheat bread. Human and Nation`s Health, 4, (1), 70–84. https://doi.org/10.31548/humanhealth.1.2026.70

Khlibyshyn, Y. Y., Pochapska, I. Y. (2021). Study of cultivation of yeast saccharomyces cerevisiae in different mediums. Chemistry, Technology and Application of Substances, 4 (2), 122–126. https://doi.org/10.23939/ctas2021.02.122

Bautista-Espinoza, P. I., Falciano, A., Reynoso-Camacho, R., Mares-Mares, E., Amaya-Llamo, S. L., Regalado-González, C. et al. (2025). Use of Agave Bagasse and Lactococcus lactis in Sourdough Production: Drying Effects on Bioactive Compounds. Foods, 14 (10), 1748. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14101748

Downloads

Pages

87-119

Text Identifier of this Chapter

Chapter 4

Published

June 26, 2026

License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Slobodyanyuk, N., Tkachuk, O., Brovenko Т., Lebedenko, T., Tolok, H., Novichkova, T., Drozd, P., & Gruntkovskyi, M. (2026). Evaluation of the usage of spontaneous fermentation sourdough starters and their influence on the quality indicators of wheat bread. In O. Priss, L. Bal-Prylypko, H. Tolok, S. Tolok, I. Ustymenko, I. Bal, O. Kanishchev, V. Davydovych, L. Shevchenko, O. Semenko, N. Slobodyanyuk, O. Pylypchuk, A. Ivaniuta, N. Holembovska, V. Israelian, A. Omelian, I. Ivanova, M. Serdyuk, T. Tymoshchuk, … L. Chepurda, Advances in food technology and innovation (pp. 87-119). Scientific Route OÜ®. https://doi.org/10.21303/978-9908-845-03-6.ch4