
Pumpernickel
Pumpernickel is a typically heavy, slightly sweet rye bread traditionally made with sourdough starter and coarsely ground rye. It is often made today with a combination of rye flour and whole rye berries.
Full Answer
What's the difference between rye and pumpernickel bread?
1. Pumpernickel bread is a type of rye bread. The critical difference between pumpernickel and rye bread is that rye bread is a catch-all term to describe any bread made with rye flour, whereas European pumpernickel bread is a specific type of dark rye bread made with rye meal, usually without any wheat.
Is pumpernickel bread better for you?
Pumpernickel bread and other whole-grain breads are healthier alternatives to white bread made with refined grains. For example, according to USDA data, one regular slice of white bread provides about 75 calories and 1.6 grams of sugar but less than one gram of fiber (0.76g).
Which is healthier pumpernickel or whole wheat bread?
On most other measures of nutritional value, rye and pumpernickel bread are not significantly different from regular whole-wheat bread. Both are richer sources of folate and folic acid and, depending on the brand, may be marginally lower in saturated fat.
Is dark pumpernickel bread healthy?
Hence, the dark crust of pumpernickel bread is a rich source of a variety of vitamins and antioxidant. In general, Pumpernickel bread is an enriched source of nutrients while having a coarse texture and slighter sweet taste profile making it a highly recommended addition to your diet.
What is the healthiest bread you can eat?
The 7 Healthiest Types of BreadSprouted whole grain. Sprouted bread is made from whole grains that have started to sprout from exposure to heat and moisture. ... Sourdough. ... 100% whole wheat. ... Oat bread. ... Flax bread. ... 100% sprouted rye bread. ... Healthy gluten-free bread.
Does pumpernickel bread raise blood sugar?
Pumpernickel does, indeed, have a low glycemic index (GI) that prevents your blood sugar from significantly spiking up following a meal. It helps effectively reduce blood sugar levels and thus is particularly suited to diabetic patients.
Is pumpernickel bread hard to digest?
2. Pumpernickel bread aids digestion. One Canadian study found that pumpernickel bread had four to eight times as much resistant starch as breads made with wheat or barley. Resistant starch benefits blood sugar because it doesn't digest easily.
Why is it called pumpernickel?
Let's first recall where this strange name comes from. “Pumpern” is a German verb meaning “to fart” and nickel, like “Old Nick” in English, was a name for “the devil”. Thus, pumpernickel literally means “the devil's fart.” Pumpernickel is a well-known culinary specialty from Westphalia, in northwestern Germany.
What bread is good for diabetics?
whole wheat breadThe American Diabetes Association recommends choosing whole grain bread or 100 percent whole wheat bread instead of white bread. White bread is made from highly processed white flour and added sugar. Here are some delicious and healthy breads to try: Joseph's Flax, Oat Bran and Wheat Pita Bread.
Is pumpernickel bread Keto friendly?
Pumpernickel Bread is low in net carbs but it should still be avoided on keto because it contains unhealthy ingredients like soybean oil and modified starch.
How long does pumpernickel bread last?
If you must refrigerate pumpernickel bread (eg, due to a lack of pantry storage space or very hot, humid room conditions), the bread will typically last for only about 2-3 days before getting stale.
What does pumpernickel taste like?
Pumpernickel is a bread that is traditional in the Westphalia region of Germany. Pumpernickel is very dark brown, almost black at times, with a heavy, coarse, dense texture and almost no crust. The taste is slightly sweet and slightly sour. There are no caraway seeds, as there are in the America version.
What bread is best for diabetics?
whole grain breadThe American Diabetes Association recommends choosing whole grain bread or 100 percent whole wheat bread instead of white bread. White bread is made from highly processed white flour and added sugar.
Does rye bread spike blood sugar?
Rye bread has several qualities that can aid blood sugar control ( 5 ). For starters, it's high in soluble fiber, which helps slow the digestion and absorption of carbs and sugar through the digestive tract, leading to a more gradual rise in blood sugar levels ( 8 ).
Is pumpernickel bread keto friendly?
Pumpernickel Bread is low in net carbs but it should still be avoided on keto because it contains unhealthy ingredients like soybean oil and modified starch.
What Is Pumpernickel Bread?
Pumpernickel is a type of dark brown bread that originated in Germany. Although there’s some debate about the origin of the name, pumpernickel in German basically translates to “hard to digest,” due to the density of the bread.
Nutrition Facts
Because it’s made with whole grains, pumpernickel is high in resistant starch and fiber. Rye grains are also a good source of nutrients, including manganese, selenium, phosphorus, B vitamins and copper.
Health Benefits
What is pumpernickel bread beneficial for? Here are some of the health benefits associated with traditional whole grain pumpernickel breads:
How to Make Your Own (Plus Buying Tips)
Look for real, traditional pumpernickel breads at artisan bakeries and German markets. A good way to tell if the bread is made with whole grains is to pick it up and feel its weight; you’re looking for a bread that feels heavy for its size, which means it’s dense and probably contains more fiber.
Risks and Side Effects
Rye is not a gluten-free grain — therefore this type of bread is not recommended for anyone with gluten intolerance/sensitivity and should be strictly avoided by those with celiac disease.
Etymology
The word supposedly stems from an old Bavarian term for "hard", either referring to the process used to grind the grain into flour, or the density of the final bread product. According to Langenscheidts Taschen Wörterbücher (1956), it refers to a form of " pumping work".
Europe
Pumpernickel has been long associated with the Westphalia region of Germany, first referred to in print in 1450.
North America
While some commercial bakeries mass-produce pumpernickel bread for wholesale, many American shops, stores, and families use traditional recipes and bake times.
What is Pumpernickel Bread?
Pumpernickel bread is one type of rye bread which is prepared with little or no wheat flour addition. Its name comes from the word “pumpernickel flour” which is a coarsely ground whole rye meal with a dark color.
Origin
Pumpernickel and other rye breads have been consumed in European countries for centuries. American pumpernickel breads are quite different from the original German and Eastern Europe pumpernickel bread which only uses rye as cereal flour in the recipe.
How is pumpernickel bread made?
Rye breads have a very distinctive rye-like flavor and, depending on the formulation, may exhibit very strong acidic taste profiles. These breads are often spiced with caraway seed or other spices.
Processing
Rye bread production has essentially the same processing steps as the production of whole or multigrain bread. Because of the characteristics of the rye flour, processing must be modified to varying degrees, depending on the amount of wheat flour that is added to compensate for the lack of unique glutenins found in wheat.
Application
The major difference between wheat flour and rye flour is that wheat contains gluten-forming proteins, both glutenins and gliadins, whereas rye flour proteins are incapable of producing the polymeric gluten network that is necessary for bread structure.
What is pumpernickel bread?
Pumpernickel is probably the most German of all breads. While German-style wholesome and wholegrain breads can nowadays be found in other countries, under European Union law authentic Westphalian pumpernickel can only be made in Germany.
What does the word mean?
In German, Pumpern is a verb that means “to fart”, and Nickel, just like Old Nick in English, was a name for the devil, so Pumpernickel would mean “farting devil”.
How to make pumpernickel bread
Because pumpernickel is so dense, the loaves are always small, much smaller than regular breads. I like baking the pumpernickel bread in straight-sided (16 ounce/450 ml) wide-mouth canning jars, which makes small, perfectly round loaves.
Instructions
Put the berries in a small saucepan and pour boiling water over them to cover by at least 1 inch (2,5cm). Cover and set aside to soak overnight.

Overview
Pumpernickel is a typically heavy, slightly sweet rye bread traditionally made with sourdough starter and coarsely ground rye. It is sometimes made with a combination of rye flour and whole rye grains ("rye berries").
At one time it was traditional peasant fare, but largely during the 20th century various forms became popular through delicatessens and supermarkets. Prese…
Etymology
The word supposedly stems from an old Bavarian term for "hard", either referring to the process used to grind the grain into flour, or the density of the final bread product. According to Langenscheidts Taschen Wörterbücher (1956), it refers to a form of "pumping work".
The philologist Johann Christoph Adelung (1732–1806) states that the word ha…
Europe
Pumpernickel has been long associated with the Westphalia region of Germany, first referred to in print in 1450. Although it is not known whether this and other early references refer to precisely the bread that came to be known as Pumpernickel, Westphalian pumpernickel is distinguished by use of coarse rye meal and a very long baking period, which gives the bread its characteristic da…
North America
While some commercial bakeries mass-produce pumpernickel bread for wholesale, many American shops, stores, and families use traditional recipes and bake times. Some mass-produced pumpernickel in North America may incorporate natural colorants such as molasses, caramel color, coffee, or cocoa powder among others to imitate the various shades of brown of traditional German pumpernickel. As is common modern commercial baking practice, commerci…
See also
• List of breads
• Rugbrød
• Schwarzbrot
• Jewish rye bread
• Pumper Nic
External links
• pumpernickel at the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
• How to make an American pumpernickel bread
• How to make authentic German pumpernickel bread
• Description of Schupp "bon pour Nicol" quotation