Following yesterday’s post, where we gave you a recipe for whole wheat bread, today we share with you some of our favourite bread making tips! These will help you avoid some of the most common problems associated with making bread at home – ensuring your loaves are as yummy as can be!
Our favourite bread making tips
Make sure your ingredients are fresh
Whole wheat flour contains wheat germ… and wheat germ contains fat. This can turn rancid, giving the flour an unpleasant taste – so freshness is vital! Keep your wheat flour in the fridge.
The freshness of your yeast is also crucial to the success of your bread – if your bread doesn’t rise properly, then 9 times out of 10 stale yeast is the culprit. Buy your yeast as you need it – and check the date on the pack you buy.
Use the right amount of flour
The weather can affect the way your dough turns out, making it difficult to give the precise amount of flour needed for a particular recipe. The best option is to use a little less flour than the recipe stipulates – you can always add a little more if necessary.
Want a softer crust on your loaf?
To give your bread a softer crust (which your little one may prefer), use milk in your bread recipes instead of water.
Make sure that your dough rises properly…
… it should double in size. But don’t leave it for too long, or the bread will have a crumbly texture. Don’t bypass the second rise, either – or your bread will be heavy and probably contain large holes.
To give your bread a shiny crust…
If your baby has been introduced to eggs, then brush your loaf with a lightly beaten egg, mixed with a little water, before you bake it.
Make sure your oven is hot enough
Preheat the oven according to the recipe you are using – and don’t put the bread in the oven before it has reached the required temperature. If you do, the texture of the bread will likely be doughy!
If you have any helpful bread making tips, please share them here!