A. L-cysteine is best described, (as it is in the FDA’s Code of Federal Regulations), as a dough conditioner or dough strengthener. It makes the dough more manageable, (i.e., able to be stretched out and unlikely to bounce back to its original ball-like state when making a pizza crust, for example).
It is most common in pizza dough and bagels. It may be present in other types of bread products, too.
- See more at: http://www.vrg.org/blog/2013/04/22/information-about-l-cysteine/#sthash.AvmhqiMw.dpuf