# Rye Bread **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 25, 2002, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rye-bread/110778 "2002-05-25T09:59:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![USNSPARKS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9fc348/32.png) [@USNSPARKS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USNSPARKS)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rye-bread/110778/1 "2002-05-25T09:59:52Z")
Why is rye bread always double wrapped in the supermarket? White bread (they have nerve calling it bread) only has one wrapper. I’m talking about the breads that are on the shelves and not any that might be bought through the deli department. Please answer this trivial question so I will have one less thing to ponder. Thanks -.- ---
**Author:** ![bare](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bare/32/471_2.png) [@bare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bare)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rye-bread/110778/2 "2002-05-25T11:53:42Z")
Ohh, ohh, can I be first? Ain’t nuttin’ worse than dry rye. ::wry humor:: ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rye-bread/110778/3 "2002-05-25T12:40:30Z")
Just a conjecture: rye bread has fewer preservatives in it so it requires better care. Ever notice that true French turns rock-like in one day, while flannel bread remains edible (so-to-speak) for a week. BTW, rye bread is still mainly wheat. I don’t know the proportion, but I don’t think rye has any gluten and cannot be made to rise with yeast. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rye-bread/110778/4 "2002-05-25T16:45:23Z")
Here’s the next guess. Rye has more aroma than other breads. Perhaps the double wrap is to keep the other bread from picking up the rye smell. –Nott ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rye-bread/110778/5 "2002-05-25T16:48:43Z")
And with somewhat less appeal compared to “white” bread, it stays on the shelf a little longer. Double-wrapping it might increase shelf life. ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rye-bread/110778/6 "2002-05-25T17:37:22Z")
I have some winter wheat bread that’s also double wrapped. Hmm. I think all the Orowheat products are packaged that way. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rye-bread/110778/7 "2002-05-25T19:48:27Z")
Am I the only one here who has never seen double-wrapped rye? I buy a lot of rye bread and it always has just one wrapping. ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rye-bread/110778/8 "2002-05-25T20:59:50Z")
[Rye](http://www.gicare.com/pated/edtgs06.htm) does indeed have gluten, although less of it than wheat has. ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rye-bread/110778/9 "2002-05-25T21:07:42Z")
[Further research](http://www.taunton.com/finecooking/pages/c00051.asp#rightrye) indicates that using rye alone would produce a dense loaf so recipes usually mix in wheat flour to give the bread a greater rise, more volume and a more pleasing texture. As for the double -wrapping, I recall reading on one bread manufacturers site that their product was double-wrapped to prevent freezer burn. I have seen wheat breads at my local store that were double-wrapped as well. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rye-bread/110778/10 "2002-05-26T01:55:19Z")
Arnold rye bread is double-wrapped, but most other brands I see in the supermarket don’t bother. I suspect that Arnold is prevalent in areas where rye bread is a rarity. ---
**Author:** ![dqa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dqa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dqa)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rye-bread/110778/11 "2002-05-26T02:38:17Z")
This [Toronto bakery](http://www.rudolphsbreads.com/products/100rye.html) explains: > [@](#): > > \*\*These Special breads are DOUBLE WRAPPED with a high density plastic inner wrapper to protect against freezer burn and a color coded, printed reclosable outer polyethylene bag. \*\*However, the bread in question has no wheat, gluten, yeast, or preservatives, so it may be more prone to spoilage than other brands. ---
**Author:** ![USNSPARKS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9fc348/32.png) [@USNSPARKS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USNSPARKS)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rye-bread/110778/12 "2002-05-28T08:24:16Z")
Thank you all for answering my question. I’ll try and come up with something a bit tougher next time. 🙂 BTW, if memory is correct, all the “specialty” (non-white) breads are double wrapped. The ones on the Rye breads are of different texture. I assume all the other are double wrapped the same. ---
**Author:** ![USNSPARKS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9fc348/32.png) [@USNSPARKS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USNSPARKS)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rye-bread/110778/13 "2002-05-28T08:28:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bibliophage \* > \*\*Am I the only one here who has never seen double-wrapped rye? I buy a lot of rye bread and it always has just one wrapping. \*\* Come down to Chattanooga TN ! (I seriously doubt seeing double bagged rye bread would be worth the trip.) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rye-bread/110778/14 "2002-05-28T09:45:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by USNSPARKS \* > \*\*Come down to Chattanooga TN ! > > (I seriously doubt seeing double bagged rye bread would be worth the trip.) 🙂 \*\* [sarcasm]Yes, but the wonderful Choo-Choo exhibit would be![/sarcasm] ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rye-bread/110778/15 "2002-05-28T15:01:33Z")
As for the freezer burn issue, I know any number of people that buy more rye than they’ll use right away (a single loaf, most cases! 😛 ), and will freeze the raminder to keep it fresh. ---
**Author:** ![USNSPARKS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9fc348/32.png) [@USNSPARKS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USNSPARKS)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rye-bread/110778/16 "2002-05-29T09:23:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > \*\*[sarcasm]Yes, but the wonderful Choo-Choo exhibit would be![/sarcasm] \*\* Don’t forget the aquarium, worlds largest fresh water aquarium. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rye-bread/110778/17 "2002-05-29T09:30:03Z")
Actually, I like the aquarium a lot, though my Dad’s cow-orker once said (in all seriousness) that it had “too many fish”. :rolleyes: Sorry about the hijack - hey, what about that rye bread, eh?