Are Gluten and Leaven the Same? Unpacking the Science of Baking
                                
                                
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                                    4 min read                                
                            
                                Bread has been a staple of the human diet for thousands of years, with leavened bread tracing its roots back to ancient Egypt. So, are gluten and leaven the same? While they both play critical roles, they are fundamentally different, with one providing structure and the other lift.