The Intercontinental Church of God
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SUBJECT: Leaven and leavening agents
QUESTIONS: WHAT IS MEANT BY LEAVEN?
ANSWER:
God uses leaven to symbolize sin, 1 Corinthians 5:1-8. Sin puffs us
up and grows with in us spiritually just as physical leaven puffs up
bread dough. God uses unleavened bread to symbolize a sinless life.
God tells us we are to put leavening agents as well as any leavened
product out of our homes by the First Day of Unleavened Bread and keep
it out for seven days. We are not to eat leavened food during that time.
Exodus 12:15-17; Exodus 13:6-7; and Leviticus 23:6-8. To understand
exactly what is included in the leaven we are to avoid during the Days
of Unleavened Bread, we must understand what is meant by "leaven".
Leavening agents are substances that are used to puff up or produce
fermentation, causing dough to rise. Yeast, bicarbonate of soda (baking
soda), and baking powder are such substances. Leavening can also refer
to "sourdough" a naturally fermenting yeast batter. Foods that can
contain the above leavening agents are bread, rolls, buns, cakes, some
crackers, pancakes, waffles, doughnuts, certain cookies, cereals, etc.
If you are in doubt about any product, check the list of ingredients.
When you are not sure about a particular food -- don't eat it.
EGG WHITES are not considered to be a leavening agent.
YEAST EXTRACT on the labels of certain foods are derivatives of yeast
that cannot leaven anything. It would be all right to use a product
containing yeast extracts providing it does not contain an actual
leavening agent.
BREWERS YEAST is a food supplement that contains all the elements of
the B vitamin complex. It has no leavening properties.
CREAM OF TARTAR is not a leavening agent.
God tells us we must eat unleavened bread instead of leavened bread
for seven days. Some stores carry unleavened bread and crackers. Always
check the ingredients on the label to be sure. Just because a food looks
unleavened, it still may contain a leavening agent. Perhaps you may
enjoy making your own, which is why these recipes have been compiled.
FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF LEAVENING AGENTS
baker's ammonia = ammonium carbonate = baking ammonia = hartshorn
baker's yeast
baking powder = baking soda = bicarbonate of soda = sodium bicarbonate
bicarbonate of soda
double-acting baking powder = double-action baking powder
hartshorn
single-acting baking powder = single-action baking powder
sodium bicarbonate
sourdough starter
yeast
NOTICE: Brewer's Yeast, Torula
Yeast and Yeast Extract are not leavening agents. Egg whites are also
NOT leavening agents. Autolyzed yeast and cornstarch are also not
leavening agents. Autolyzed yeast is used as a flavor enhancer and
cannot be used for making bread.