Editing Flour (section)

=== Degermed and heat-processed flour ===

An important problem of the [[Industrial Revolution]] was the preservation of flour. Transportation distances and a relatively slow distribution system collided with natural [[shelf life]]. The reason for the limited shelf life is the [[fatty acids]] of the [[Cereal germ|germ]], which react from the moment they are exposed to oxygen. This occurs when grain is milled; the fatty acids oxidize and flour starts to become [[rancidification|rancid]]. Depending on climate and grain quality, this process takes six to nine months. In the late 19th century, this process was too short for an industrial production and distribution cycle. As [[vitamin]]s, [[micronutrient]]s and [[amino acid]]s were completely or relatively unknown in the late 19th century, removing the germ was an effective solution. Without the germ, flour cannot become rancid. Degermed flour became standard. Degermation started in densely populated areas and took approximately one generation to reach the countryside.
Heat-processed flour is flour where the germ is first separated from the endosperm and bran, then processed with steam, dry heat or [[microwave]] and blended into flour again.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goldkeim.com/ |title=Deutsch: Goldkeim |website=www.goldkeim.com |language=de |access-date=2017-10-18 |archive-date=2011-02-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110201180727/http://goldkeim.com/ |url-status=live}}</ref>