How To Make Homemade Bread? Easy Tips To Follow

Homemade Bread 101

Bread is all-time favorite food for many Americans, and homemade bread, perhaps, has no competitors. Made using only 5 ingredients, this delicious homemade bread will soon become a stable in your urban homestead kitchen.

All you need for this French bread is 1 1/4 th cup of warm water (not boiling!), a pinch of sugar (can use sucanat, if available), 3 ½ cups wheat flour (can use half wheat, whole wheat or half white as well), 1 ½ teaspoons dry yeast, and salt to taste.

1. Take a large bowl, mix the yeast and sugar in warm water until the mixture dissolves completely.
2. Now, add salt, and gently stir in flour into this mixture.
3. Make sure there are no lumps and that the mixture is not chunky.
4. The amount of flour required will depend on the water and your mixing technique. All you have to do is make the dough soft, pliable and non-sticky.
5. Gently knead the dough, until the dough becomes soft and elastic.
6. You can cover the dough with a wet kitchen towel for about an hour to make sure that the dough rises or doubles up in size.
7. Divide the entire dough into two halves and roll each of these halves into rectangular shape.
8. Slowly roll the rectangle by pinching the ends to seal the opening. Bring this into a nice ‘log’ shape.
9. The seams have to stick and sit down; however, if they don’t, simply moisten your fingers with water and reseal the seams carefully. Make sure it sits together firmly; otherwise, it will start to unravel during the baking process.
10. Prepare an egg wash, by beating an egg and mixing it with one tablespoon of water. Egg wash will give your bread the much needed color and finish.
11. In your 375 degrees pre-heated oven, plop the loaves carefully.
12. Before putting the bread loaves into the oven, make sure you brush the bread evenly with egg wash and make four professional (and diagonal slashes across the bread loaves).
13. Now, bake this for about 20 to 25 minutes. Cool down the homemade bread for some time before devouring it.

Following these 13 steps, you will be ready to start making homemade bread. Please share your bread pictures in the comments below (if any).

The Benefits Of Making Homemade Bread

Homemade bread offers several notable benefits compared to store-bought varieties, primarily due to its freshness, control over ingredients, and absence of additives. Here are the key advantages of consuming homemade bread:

Freshness and Flavor:

Homemade bread is often fresher and has a better flavor compared to store-bought bread, which may have preservatives to extend its shelf life.

Control Over Ingredients:

When making bread at home, you have complete control over the quality and types of ingredients used, ensuring a healthier end product.

No Additives or Preservatives:

Homemade bread typically avoids additives and preservatives that are commonly found in commercial bread. This makes it a healthier choice for those seeking a more natural diet.

Customization:

You can tailor the ingredients to suit dietary preferences or restrictions, such as using whole-grain flour, reducing sodium, or incorporating seeds and grains for added nutrition and texture.

Healthier Nutritional Profile:

Homemade bread can be made with healthier flour options, like whole wheat or whole grain flour, which retain more nutrients and fiber than highly processed white flour.

Reduced Sodium Content:

Homemade bread allows you to control the amount of salt added, reducing sodium intake, which is a concern in many commercial bread products.

Avoid Allergens:

For individuals with specific allergies or sensitivities, homemade bread offers the opportunity to omit allergenic ingredients and make safe alternatives.

Supports Sustainability:

Baking bread at home can contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle by reducing packaging waste associated with store-bought bread.

Therapeutic and Relaxing:

The process of making bread from scratch can be therapeutic and relaxing for many people, promoting a sense of accomplishment and creativity.

Family Activity:

Baking bread can be a fun and engaging activity for the family, encouraging bonding and teaching essential life skills to children.

Cost-Effective:

In the long run, making homemade bread can be cost-effective, especially if you bake regularly and purchase ingredients in bulk.

Better Digestibility:

Some individuals find homemade bread easier to digest, possibly due to the absence of certain additives or the use of specific grains and fermentation techniques.

Incorporating homemade bread into your diet allows you to enjoy a healthier, fresher, and customizable bread option while avoiding unnecessary additives often found in commercial bread.

Want to make cheese at home?

Originally posted 2020-07-11 17:36:45.