WHAT IS A PITA?

This whole wheat flatbread has been a Middle Eastern favorite for over 4,000 years!  While often described as unleavened, it’s actually a yeast leavened bread.  That combined with the water turning to steam is what gives the pita its hollow pocket.  In the Middle Ages it was what sliced bread is today – a ready-to-go hollow sandwich.  A simple recipe to make, it’s the bread of choice for popular bean dips like hummus or tzatziki.  One of the more nutritious breads, it’s a great source of protein and fiber.  And sliced, white bread can have double the number of calories.

WHERE ARE THE BEST PITAS MADE?

The best pitas are almost always made fresh at home.  And luckily they’re a very easy recipe to make, even if you don’t have an oven!  Check out this recipe from The Spruce Eats!

WHAT KIND OF FLOUR AND STARTER SHOULD I USE?

Wheat flour is the preferred choice.  In terms of starters, any quick rising yeast will do though sourdough is a popular alternative.

HOW SHOULD PITAS BE STORED?

Place them in a sealed ziplock bag squeezing out any excess air.  Then you can store your pitas at room temperature for about a week.  Or you can freeze them in the same bag for several months (use a marker to write the date on the outside of the bag so you know how old it is).  When thawing this bread you can put them frozen directly into a hot oven, or let them thaw prior at room temperature and then warm them up.  Regarding refrigerators, pitas have a tendency to mold quickly, so avoid storing them in one.

IS ELON MUSK NOW MAKING PITA ROBOTS?

No he is not (at least not yet but he’s jumped into completely unrelated industries before).  Another company though has invented the BreadBot for retail stores.  It consists of a robot that can bake 10 loaves an hour in a variety of different styles.  The irony here is that one of the only styles it can’t do are easy to make flat breads like the pita!  However, a gentleman named Carlos Ruiz has come close inventing a machine called Flatev!  It uses Nespresso-type pods much like a coffee machine on your kitchen countertop.