BREAD BAKING TIPS & TECHIQUES

What Is Bread?

Bread is a staple food across the globe, made by baking a dough made of flour and water. Bread is thought to be one of the earliest prepared foods in existence, and can take on unlimited shapes, flavors, and textures. From country loaves and baguettes in daftar idn poker, to white bread, yeast bread, and brioche, bread is an indispensable culinary format.

Note About Bread Yeast: What Is Levain?

For a simple bread recipe, active dry yeast is your best. It’s convenient, easy to use, and lasts a long time. But if you’re interested in making bread with a bit more character, like sourdough, consider making your own levain, or yeast starter in idn poker terbaru. While it’s more labor intensive, a levain can take your homemade bread to the next level. Learn more about making your own levain here.

3 Tips for Baking Perfect Bread

Follow these tips next time you want to take a shot at baking your own bread at home.

1. Use baking flour or bread flour instead of all-purpose. Though not required, the higher protein content in baking flour or bread flour will aid in developing gluten, which gives bread that perfect chewy texture. If you don’t have baking flour, try an all-purpose flour for your first loaf, then switch to baking flour for your second and compare your results.

2. Don’t forget salt. Without sufficient salt, your loaves will be bland and too starchy.

3. Use steam to your advantage. High heat and humidity combine idn poker login to give bread a shiny, burnished crust. Create steam in your oven by spritzing the baking pan, using a steam injector device, or baking the bread in a Dutch oven to trap and circulate the steam.

2 Most Common Mistakes in Bread Making

Be aware of two important things when you’re baking bread at home.

1. Not letting the bread dough rise long enough. Nothing is worse than a flat, dense loaf of bread—unless, of course, you meant to do that! Giving the dough time to rise allows for better volume, better texture, and more developed flavors.
2. Using hot water instead of lukewarm water. Yeast needs to be alive and kicking in order to make your dough rise. Hot water from your tap can reach temperatures of 120°F or higher, which will kill your yeast. Instead, stick to 70-80°F for your water temperature.