How to Make Basic Bread
Basic bread is simple to make. From start to finish, you need to plan on a few hours time, but for most of that time, you will be waiting for the bread to do its magic and not actually doing anything at all. Once the bread is baked, nothing is better than a warm slice slathered with real butter. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Small bowl 3 packages dry, bread yeast Measuring spoons 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup hot water Measuring cups 1/2 cup milk 1 tablespoon butter, oil or margarine Small saucepan 6 to 8 cups wheat flour Large bowl Wooden spoon Floured work surface 1/2 cup vegetable oil or lard Clean dish towel 2 bread loaf pans Wire rack
Instructions
-
-
1
In a small bowl, mix together 3 packages of bread yeast, 2 teaspoons of sugar and 1/4 cup of hot water. Set the bowl aside for the yeast to proof, or double in volume. If you are using instant yeast, you can skip this step.
-
2
Mix 1/2 cup of milk, 1 tablespoon of butter and 1/4 cup of sugar in a small saucepan. Warm over low heat until the butter is melted. Remove from the stove.
-
-
3
Pour 2 cups of wheat flour into a large bowl. Add in the yeast mixture and stir with a wooden spoon to distribute the mix throughout the flour. If you are using instant yeast, add it to the flour and stir.
-
4
Add in the milk mixture and stir, until the flour mixture is smooth.
-
5
Begin adding flour 1 cup at a time, stirring to incorporate.
-
6
Continue to add flour until a stiff dough ball has been formed. Dump the dough ball onto a floured work surface. Add another 1/2 cup of flour over the top of the ball on the work surface.
-
7
Knead the dough by adding more flour to the work surface and incorporate it into the dough ball with your hands. Kneading is a simple process. Flour your hands and use the heals of your palms to push against the flour ball. Turn the ball 1/4 turn and repeat. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of flour to the board as necessary and continue to knead until you can pull your hands away from the dough without any stickiness.
-
8
Prepare a large bowl for the dough by adding 1/4 cup of oil to the bottom of the bowl.
-
9
Place the dough ball into the large bowl and coat the ball with the oil. Cover with a clean dish towel.
-
10
Allow the dough ball to rise for 30 minutes to 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.
-
11
Punch down the dough ball using your fist and place it back on the work surface.
-
12
Cut or divide the dough in half. Use your hands to flatten each half of the dough to the length of your bread pans. Start at one end of the flattened dough and roll it into a loaf shape.
-
13
Prepare the bread pans by greasing the insides with lard or oil.
-
14
Place the loaves, seam down, into the prepared bread pans.
-
15
Cover the loaf pans with the dishtowel and let the bread rise until doubled. This will take anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes.
-
16
Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a deep golden brown.
-
17
Remove the bread from the pans and cool on a wire rack.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
How long it takes the yeast to proof and the bread to rise depends on air temperature, humidity and other weather factors affecting the kitchen. Any type of wheat flour can be used for this recipe, although bread flour will yield a heartier, textured loaf. Bread is done when you can tap on the bottom of the loaf and it sounds hollow.
