Cheap supermarket loaves

[Blunderwoman]

Are the cheap 20p white loaves steamed rather than baked?

[Bert]

No, they are baked, the same as expensive loaves. All loaves are steamed to a certain extent, by the water that evaporates off them in the oven. Sandwich loaves are baked with a lid on, so they are steamed more than ones cooked in an open tin, which gives it the traditional crusty top. Bagels are steamed before being baked - that's what makes them different and so chewy. Cheap loves are made from cheaper ingredients and are made to retain more water. I heard a baker describe making this sort of bread as "the art of making air stand up". They are often sold as a "loss leader" until the nearest small baker has been forced out of business.