Occasionally my bread has a distinct off-odor resembling spray paint or nail polish. What is the cause of this odor?
This problem is nearly always caused by the wild yeast, endomycopsis. This yeast is found in nature and is carried into the plant by air currents. The yeast converts starch into acetone, which is the odor detected in the bread. The yeast can best be eliminated by washing the equipment with vinegar.