Where does this come from, and can I check it?

Steam inside the flat dough separates two layers and leaves a cavity. The figure is taken from British Library, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.

Is this really a food fact?

Yes. It sits on the Food shelf, one of 2,600 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.

What else can I read about it?

The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.

Mondo Knows Facts

Pita puffs into a hollow pocket

Steam inside the flat dough separates two layers and leaves a cavity Pita is rolled thin and baked on a very hot surface, so the outer layer sets within moments. Steam from the moist dough builds up inside and pushes the upper and lower surfaces apart, inflating the bread like a balloon. When it cools the steam condenses, leaving the flat bread collapsed around an empty pocket. It sits in Mondo's food collection, one of 200 facts that each trace back to the reference below.

Where this comes from

British Library

Facts that can change over time are reviewed and updated. If something here looks wrong, Mondo would rather know than be confidently incorrect.

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Food & Cooking trivia

More facts like this

Steam in the oven keeps a crust thin while the loaf risesMoist air delays the crust setting, letting the bread expand further Puff pastry rises on its own steamWater in the butter vaporises and lifts the layers apart Bagels are boiled before they are bakedA dip in hot water sets the crust and limits how much the dough can rise Ciabatta was invented in the 1980sA Verona baker devised the slipper shaped loaf to compete with French bread Chapati puffs when it meets a flameWholemeal dough traps steam that balloons the bread over direct heat Focaccia dimples keep the oil on topBakers press holes into the risen dough so olive oil pools instead of running off

Tags: pita, bread, steam

Pita puffs into a hollow pocket: the short answers

Where does this come from, and can I check it?: Steam inside the flat dough separates two layers and leaves a cavity. The figure is taken from British Library, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.
Is this really a food fact?: Yes. It sits on the Food shelf, one of 2,600 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.
What else can I read about it?: The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.