Many people believe that eating overcooked foods, such as burnt bread, can cause adverse health effects. Specifically, some claim that they could even be related to an increased risk of cancer.
It has been known for a long time that simply overheating and burning some foods can cause unwanted effects on the body. It is no longer just a different taste when we take a bite. Is it possible to endanger health?
Acrylamide formation in burnt bread
In the case of burnt bread, the greatest concern relates to the risk of acrylamide formation. This is a compound that has been linked to cancer and nerve damage in humans and animals. Scientific evidence does not establish a direct link between cancer and acrylamide in foods consumed by humans. However, some studies have indicated a doubling of the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer among women who consume this compound in food. Although it is true that other studies have found nothing.
Still, in 2007, European Union health advisers decided to take a precautionary approach, recommending that people avoid eating burnt bread or brown potatoes, as they may contain unacceptably high levels of acrylamide. So the toasts should be cooked until they turn a golden yellow color.
Acrylamide can also form in starchy foods during high temperature cooking methods. This is caused by a chemical reaction between proteins and sugars, which gives cooked foods a dark color and distinctive flavor. It is more likely to build up when food is cooked at higher temperatures or for longer periods of time. That is, the more burnt the toast is, the more acrylamide it is likely to contain.
At what temperature is the bread toasted?
Nor should we be alarmed. Eating burnt bread is unlikely to cause cancer when consumed in moderation as part of a healthy and complete diet. So it may not be necessary to completely remove burnt toast when we run out of toaster time with the bread in it.
That being said, if we want to reduce acrylamide intake, we can try roasting it for a shorter period of time until it reaches a light golden color. Even pieces that are very dark or burned can be cut to limit acrylamide consumption.
As for the perfect temperature and time to toast the bread without burning it, it will depend on the method we use. For example, if we are going to toast the bread in the oven, leaving it for about 6 minutes at 200ºC will be perfect for browning it. As for toasters, science states that they must be toasted at 150ºC for 3 and a half minutes . However, this will depend on the power of each toaster and the type of bread we use. It is best to check the bread the first few times until you determine the exact point of our appliance.
