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Bread Molding Science Projects for Kids

Learn about the science of food safety with bread molding science projects for kids. Molds are a type of fungus, and some may cause allergic reactions or respiratory problems when eaten or inhaled. They are found in nearly every environment, and some are poisonous. Create experiments growing mold on bread to test any theories or hypotheses you may have.

Temperatures
- Mold still grows in the refrigerator.
  
  Mold grows faster in warmer temperatures. Experiment by leaving bread on your kitchen counter, the refrigerator and in the car. Predict which location will grow the mold fastest. Take the temperature of each location and place the bread on the same kind of container in each place. Check the bread every day for mold growth and record the temperature. Once mold starts to grow, record how many days it took and compare it to the other locations. Chart the growth rate on a graph.
Types of Bread
- Figure out which types of bread grow mold the fastest. Purchase different types of bread. Bake your own bread with different types of flour. Place a slice of each in the same location and temperature. Predict which type of bread grows mold faster. Homemade breads do not contain any preservatives, unlike store-bought bread. Observe all the slices and record any mold growth. Also note how long it takes for each type of bread to start growing mold.
Container
- Observe how each container seals the bread.
  
  Test which types of containers work best to prevent mold growth. Purchase a loaf of sliced bread and place one slice in different containers, such as plastic wrap, plastic zip bag, a brown bag and no container. The bread without a container is considered the control group or the normal group. Record your observations daily and note after how many days each slice of bread starts to grow mold. Also write down what the mold growth looks like.
Salt
- Observe any differences in the type of molds that grow on the bread.
  
  Test whether or not salt prevents mold growth. Purchase bread and make homemade bread for this experiment. Place two slices of store-bought bread in a testing area. Add salt all over one of the slices. For the homemade bread, add 1 teaspoon of salt to half the dough and add 1 cup of salt to the other half of dough. Bake the breads and then leave them out to form mold. Record which types of bread grow mold faster and chart the data on a graph.

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