The fewer the ingredients, the closer you are to "real" bread. Traditional bread essentially needs only four things: flour, water, yeast, and salt.

: Bread is a sneaky source of salt. A single slice can contain over 200mg of sodium ; look for "Best Bite" options with 120mg or less . 2. Decode Freshness and Quality

Timing and physical characteristics are the best indicators of a loaf's quality and age.