8 Ways To Fix Bread Tastes Like Soap

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Be it for French toast or sandwiches, bread is a staple in most kitchens. However, it can be a little puzzling if your bread tastes like soap.

Bread Tastes Like Soap

This is an issue that has come up on quite a few of the forums so we decided to investigate what might be causing the problem.

1. Test the Bread in Another Room

The problem may be caused by a soapy smell in the room where you’re eating the bread. For instance, if you just washed dishes or laundry and are eating bread while standing in the kitchen, you might be smelling that soap rather than a soap-smelling bread.

To test, you need to take out a bread slice from the middle of the loaf and taste it after going into a different room. This is because it will remove the soapy smell that may be overpowering your senses. So, if bread tastes fine in another room, you’ve found the cause of your problem.

2. Cilantro

If you are still struggling with a soapy taste in your bread, check the ingredients and see if cilantro was added. Some healthy or herby cheese bread have this in. Cilantro tastes strange to some people and this might be the cause.

3. Look Around

Perhaps you are sitting with someone who has used a strong cologne or scent. This odor may affect your sense of taste. because it might overpower the flavor.

In addition, the soapy smell could be caused by your own hand-wash or soap (if you washed your hands right before eating the bread).

4. Are You Sick?

In some cases, people develop a weird taste in their mouth if they aren’t feeling good, health-wise. For instance, if your nose is stuffed up due to flu or if you are just feeling ill, it could be why your bread seems to taste funny.

Certain medications also have the side effect of making food taste strange.

5. Lye

Lye (caustic soda/sodium hydroxide) is a common ingredient used in the baking industry. Although it is used sparingly, this may be what you are tasting.

Stronger solutions of lye are used in soap and other household cleaners but the lye that’s used for baking is a milder solution used as a preservative or softening agent. It is a stronger alkaline than baking soda. The FDA has approved its use in food as a pH control substance.

However, lye is known for its soapy flavor, so if too much has been used, it may be what you are tasting in the bread. Read the ingredient list and look for sodium hydroxide. If lye is mentioned, you have found the culprit.

It is sometimes used for dipping bread rolls in to make them brown as they are baked.

6. Grains

There are several different methods for processing grains for baking and they all give a different flavor. Sometimes grains, especially corn, are processed with limewater in a process called nixtamalization. This can be why your bread is tasting soapy.

If the taste is caused by limewater processing, you don’t have to worry about safety because the bread is safe to eat.

7. Baking Soda

Every bread company uses different raising agents. While most standard bread is leavened with yeast, some bread are made with baking soda. Baking soda has a soapy taste profile which leads to soapy-tasting bread and other baked goods if too much is added.

8. Expiry Date

If you have already checked all the above-mentioned options, but nothing makes sense, and the bread is still tasting like soap, check the expiry date. You may be tasting mold. If the bread is past the expiry date, it’s not safe to consume, and you should discard it.

For future reference, you should always check the expiry date before purchasing bread. If you live in a hot, humid climate, store your bread in the fridge to prevent mold from growing.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is that there are multiple reasons why your bread could be smelling and tasting like soap. If it is an ongoing problem for you, consider making your own bread with stoneground flour, filtered water, and yeast.

You will then be able to control exactly what goes into your bread.