In this way, the act of baking bread – or at least trying to – gives us a sense of control at a time when we’re feeling particularly helpless. The spread of coronavirus and restrictions of lockdown have left many of us worried about what’s coming next, and baking bread is one way for us to feel like we’re taking our survival into our own hands.

For Nightingale, the act of baking bread is also a way to soothe ourselves in a time when social contact is significantly restricted.

“Safety, especially emotional, is also well achieved by meaningful social contact,” she explains. “The smell of baking bread or cakes is subconsciously associated with a warm family atmosphere and therefore a sense of child-like comfort and safety. This is something we all need to feel right now – even if we’re not admitting it to ourselves.”

The psychology behind our obsession with baking bread during lockdown