What Is Maltose?

The Glossary

14 Feb

The Definition

Maltose is a disaccharide (simple sugar) produced when amylase enzymes break down the starch in flour. It is the primary fuel source for the sourdough ecosystem. Uniquely, the bacterium F. sanfranciscensis prefers maltose over glucose, giving it a competitive advantage in wheat dough.

The Symbiosis

Because F. sanfranciscensis consumes maltose but often excretes glucose, it feeds its yeast partner (Candida milleri), which is glucose-positive but maltose-negative. This "cross-feeding" allows them to thrive together without competing for the same food source [1].

References

Gobbetti, M., Corsetti, A., & Rossi, J. (1994). The sourdough microflora. Interactions between lactic acid bacteria and yeasts. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology.

Last updated: 6 January, 2026

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SugarsMicrobiologyBacterial NutritionEnzymatic Activity

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The Lectin Defense: Fermentation as a Chemical Shield

In the world of diet culture, lectins—specifically Wheat Germ Agglutinin (WGA) found in whole grains—have become a villain. They are accused of binding to the gut lining, causing "Leaky Gut," and triggering systemic inflammation.

Post-Antibiotic Recovery: Rebuilding the Microbiome with Fibre Diversity

A course of broad-spectrum antibiotics is like a forest fire. It burns down the infection, but it also incinerates the "old growth forest" of your beneficial microbiome. Species like Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus are often collateral damage.

The Retrograde Method: Freezing and Toasting for Maximum Prebiotics

This guide details The Retrograde Method—a specific protocol of cooling, freezing, and toasting designed to manipulate starch crystals. It turns a standard slice of sourdough into a high-performance delivery system for Resistant Starch (Type 3).

Stress Baking Psychology: Mindfulness and Tactile Therapy

"Stress baking" is often dismissed as a quirky coping mechanism or procrastination. But psychologists and occupational therapists view it differently. They see it as a legitimate form of sensory regulation.

Enzymatic Shearing: How Protease Cuts Gluten (The Scissors)

When a baker talks about "strength," they are usually talking about elasticity—the ability of dough to snap back. This is the hallmark of commercial yeast bread. It is rubbery, tight, and resilient. But a sourdough baker looks for something else: Extensibility. The ability to stretch without tearing.

Meet The Yeast: The Sprinter vs. The Marathon Runner

In the world of baking, the word "yeast" is used carelessly. We treat the beige granules in a packet and the wild population in a sourdough starter as if they are the same organism just living at different speeds. They are not.

Sugar Hunters: How Amylase Unlocks the Grain

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The Invisible War: Phages

You can see mold. You can smell kahm yeast. But the most lethal predator in your sourdough starter is entirely invisible. They are Bacteriophages (or simply "Phages"). They are viruses that hunt bacteria. And in the dense microbial city of a sourdough culture, they are the apex predators.

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Tactile Metrics: The Windowpane, The Poke, The Jiggly Test

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Altitude Baking: Adjusting Pressure Variables

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The Ear: The Physics of Differential Expansion

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What Is Maltose?

The Definition

The Symbiosis

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The Pact: Sourdough Protocols

Explore the science

The Body

The Microbes

The Method

The Ingredients

The Chemistry

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They Bake for Aesthetics. We bake for biology 💁‍♀️.

CITIZEN SCIENCE FOR STEWARDS OF SOURDOUGH

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CITIZEN SCIENCE FOR STEWARDS OF SOURDOUGH |

The Pact

The Protocol

The Science

The Glossary

The Resistance

What Is Maltose?

The Definition

The Symbiosis

Tactile Metrics: The Windowpane, The Poke, The Jiggly Test

The Ultimate Guide to Autolyse

Get the app

The Pact: Sourdough Protocols

Explore the science

The Body

The Microbes

The Method

The Ingredients

The Chemistry

Join The Resistance.

They Bake for Aesthetics. We bake for biology 💁‍♀️.

CITIZEN SCIENCE FOR STEWARDS OF SOURDOUGH

|

CITIZEN SCIENCE FOR STEWARDS OF SOURDOUGH | CITIZEN SCIENCE FOR STEWARDS OF SOURDOUGH |

The Pact

The Protocol

The Science

The Glossary

The Resistance

CITIZEN SCIENCE FOR STEWARDS OF SOURDOUGH |