Ciabatta Bread Calories and 5 Other Facts

Ciabatta bread is a popular bread with a nice crispy outside and light on the inside. But have you ever wondered how many calories ciabatta bread have? After all, it only contains flour, water, salt, and olive oil. 

A hundred-gram ciabatta slice contains 246 calories. Some of these calories came from protein, fats, and carbohydrates. An adult should eat at least 1,600 calories daily, so you can consider ciabatta’s calories moderate.

Ciabatta Bread 

Ciabatta bread is one of the most popular bread types for making garlic toast and paninis. It is crispy on the outside and light and chewy on the inside. For this reason, it is great for toasting and fillings like deli meat. 

However, are ciabatta bread calories a lot?

How Many Calories Are In A 100-Gram Ciabatta Slice?

According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), a 100-gram slice of ciabatta bread contains 246 calories. However, it is essential to note that the calorie content of store-bought and homemade may vary. Still, if you use ciabatta for a sandwich, you will need to use a 50-gram roll containing 123 calories. 

Consuming calories is crucial to remain healthy. So, as long as you consume a moderate amount of ciabatta bread calories and other healthy foods, the calories from this bread will provide you with some benefits. These benefits include:

• Energy
• Aids in primary organ function
• Keeps the cells healthy

Moreover, the calories you can get from a ciabatta roll are healthier than other bread types. The reason is that it uses whole wheat flour and does not contain solid fats like butter.

How Many Calories Should Someone Take In A Day?

Many people view calories as something that increases their weight. However, taking the correct number of calories every day can do a lot of benefits to your body. 

A person’s daily calorie intake depends on their: 

• Sex
• Age
• Weight and height
• Overall health

A healthy female should take about 1600 to 2000 calories every day. On the other hand, a healthy adult male should consume up to about 2500 calories. 

Suppose you aim to stay fit while consuming the recommended calories. In that case, you can opt to eat a large portion of these calories during breakfast. For instance, you can eat a ciabatta sandwich with some meat and lettuce fillings. That is about 300 calories, which means you are taking a quarter of the required daily intake in the morning. (source)

5 Facts You Need To Know About Ciabatta Bread

Ciabatta bread is not only calories, protein, and carbohydrates. In fact, ciabatta bread calories are just the right amount to take for a snack. But apart from the energy it can provide to one’s body, there are interesting ciabatta bread facts you need to know about. 

1. Ciabatta is an Italian word that means “slippers.”

The name ciabatta is an Italian word that directly translates to “slippers.” This bread’s name originates from its flattish shape, which resembles the said object. 

A flour miller named Arnaldo Cavallari invented this bread in 1982. At the time of introduction, ciabatta became a typical Italian bread. However, Marks and Spencer marketed the bread in 1985. Since then, it has become one of the nation’s most popular bread types. (source)

2. You can substitute water for milk when making ciabatta dough

Italians like to experiment with recipes. For this reason, ciabatta has variations other than the flour, water, salt, and olive oil mixture. 

One of the most popular variations of this bread is the ciabatta al latte. Instead of water, some Italian bakers use milk to hydrate the dough, giving it a creamier taste. However, adding milk also means that the ciabatta bread calories increase. 

3. The ciabatta was invented thanks to the French baguette

Arnaldo Cavallari created the ciabatta in 1982 due to people’s love for the French baguette. The baguette took Europe by storm, and Cavallari, also a baker, noticed how his patrons loved the bread taste. It prompted him to create bread that could match the popularity of the French baguette. 

Moreover, the significant difference between French baguette and ciabatta is the hydration level. (source)

4. Ciabatta dough consists of 88 percent water

Ciabatta is a high-hydration bread. About 88 percent of its dough consists of water, while the remaining 12 percent is a combination of oil, yeast, flour, and salt. 

The high amount of water used for creating the dough makes ciabatta bread crispy on the outside and light on the inside once baked. It also results in more extensive and uneven air pockets inside the bread compared to other types of bread with normal hydration levels. However, the same factor that makes ciabatta crispy yet chewy also makes it prone to microbial inhabitation. 

5. The high hydration level of ciabatta makes it sweeter

The amount of water used to make ciabatta correlates to how well gluten develops and crumbs form during fermentation. As the dough ferments, more lactic acid breaks down. So, apart from the larger crumbs and light texture, the ciabatta’s high level of water content also makes it sweeter. 

But suppose you are relatively new to baking. In that case, the high hydration level of ciabatta makes it messier to make than regular bread. (source)

Final Thoughts

A 100-gram slice of ciabatta bread contains about 246 calories. It makes the bread a good snack as a healthy adult should consume up to 2500 calories daily. Eating ciabatta in moderation can provide energy and aid in primary organ function. 

Moreover, ciabatta is more than just an Italian white bread. It has astonishing facts that make its history fascinating. 

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