The art of baking bread requires skill, patience, and the right ingredients. Creating the perfect loaf of bread starts with mastering the dough. This comprehensive guide will provide you with the knowledge and techniques needed to make a foolproof master dough for bread. We'll dive into the essential components of a successful dough, exploring the different types of flour, understanding the role of yeast and water, and uncovering the secrets of kneading and fermentation. Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting out, this article is your trusted companion on the path to crafting exceptional homemade bread.
Let's cook with our recipes!
MASTER DOUGH FOR BREAD
Use for pizza, bread, rolls, etc. Makes one 20 ounce ball of dough. Time does not include rise-time. It is easy to have fresh bread whenever you want it with only five minutes a day of active effort. For multiple loaves, Just mix the dough and let it sit for two hours. No kneading needed! Then shape and bake a loaf, and refrigerate the rest to use over the next couple weeks. Yes, weeks! The Master Recipe (below) makes enough dough for many loaves. When you want fresh-baked crusty bread, take some dough, shape it into a loaf, let it rise for about 20 minutes, then bake. Your house will smell like a bakery, and your family and friends will love you for it.
Provided by 2Bleu
Categories Yeast Breads
Time 30m
Yield 20 ounces, 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast with the water and sugar. Add the corn oil and blend.
- Add the flour and salt and mix thoroughly. If using a stand mixer, mix for 4 minutes at medium speed, until the dough is smooth and pliable. If kneading by hand, knead for 7 to 8 minutes.
- Turn the dough out of the bowl and knead by hand for two additional minutes. Add olive oil to a deep bowl.
- Place the dough ball into the bowl and turn it twice to coat it with the oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel. Let the dough rise for two hours.
- Do not punch it down. Spread and push the dough ball across the bottom of the pan. At this stage the dough can be put in the refrigerator and allowed to rise slowly over night. Take the dough out of the refrigerator at least an hour before you are ready to use it.
MASTER BREAD DOUGH
This is a great master recipe to use because you can turn it into many different options. You can bake it as a bread loaf, rolls, or even breadsticks! You can also add extra flavoring as you desire.-Fleischmann's Yeast
Provided by Taste of Home
Time 55m
Yield 1 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine 2-1/2 cups of flour, sugar, undissolved yeast and salt. Heat water, milk, and butter until very warm (120°-130°). Gradually add mixture to dry ingredients; beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally. With spoon, stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 8-10 minutes. Place kneaded dough in a greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 30-60 minutes. (With RapidRise Yeast, cover kneaded dough and let rest on floured surface 10 minutes.) Shape, let rise and bake according to options below:, LOAF: (use half of dough): Roll dough into a 12x7-in. rectangle. Beginning at short end, roll up tightly as for jelly roll. Pinch seam and ends to seal. Place, seam side down, in greased 8x4-in. loaf pan. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 1 to 1-1/2 hours. Bake at 400° for 30 minutes or until done. Remove from pan; let cool on wire rack. Yield: 1 loaf., ONION ROLLS: (use half of dough): Divide dough into 10 equal pieces; shape into smooth balls. Place in a greased 8-in. round baking pan. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 30-60 minutes. Beat 1 egg with 1 tablespoon water; brush over rolls. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons dried minced onion. Bake at 375° for 25 minutes or until done, covering with foil during the last 5 minutes of baking to prevent excess browning. Remove from pan; let cool on wire rack. Yield: 10 rolls., SOFT HERB BREADSTICKS: (use half of dough): Divide dough into 12 equal pieces; roll each into a 15-in. rope. Twist each rope several times if desired. Place on two greased baking sheets. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until risen slightly, about 10-20 minutes. Lightly beat 1 egg white; brush over breadsticks. Sprinkle with herbs or herb blends such as oregano, dill weed or Italian herb seasoning. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until done. Remove from sheets; let cool on wire rack.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 198 calories, Fat 2g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 5mg cholesterol, Sodium 314mg sodium, Carbohydrate 39g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 5g protein.
MASTER DOUGH WITH STARTER
Steps:
- Put the yeast in a small bowl, add the warm water, and whisk vigorously for 30 seconds. The yeast should dissolve in the water and the mixture should foam. If it doesn't and the yeast granules float, the yeast is "dead" and should be discarded. Begin again with a fresh amount of yeast and water.
- Combine the flour and malt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook.
- With the mixer running on the lowest speed, pour in most of the icewater, reserving about 2 tablespoons, followed by the yeast-water mixture. Pour the reserved water into the yeast bowl, swirl it around to dislodge any bits of yeast stuck to the bowl, and add to the mixer. Mix for about 15 seconds, stop the mixer, and add the poolish or tiga.
- Continue to mix the dough at the lowest speed for about 1 minute, until most of the dough comes together around the hook. Stop the mixer. Use your fingers to pull away any dough clinging to the hook, and scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl with a bowl scraper or rubber spatula. Check the bottom of the bowl for any unincorporated flour. Turn the dough over and press it into the bottom of the bowl to pick up any stray pieces. If the dough isn't holding together, add small amounts of water (about 1/2 teaspoon to start) and mix until the dough is no longer dry and holds together.
- Add the salt and mix on the lowest speed for 1 minute to combine.
- Stop the mixer, pull the dough off the hook, and add the oil. Mix the dough for 1 to 2 minutes, stopping the mixer from time to time to pull the dough off the hook and scrape down the sides of the bowl, until all of the oil is absorbed. The dough won't look completely smooth.
- Use a bowl scraper to transfer the dough to an unfloured work surface, then knead it for 2 to 3 minutes, until smooth. Cover the dough with a damp dish towel and let rest at room temperature for 20 minutes. Use the dough cutter to loosen the dough and to cut it in half. Weigh the dough, adjusting the quantity as necessary to give you two 13-ounce pieces. Form each piece into a ball. Any remaining dough can be discarded.
- Form the dough into balls. Set the balls on a half sheet pan, spacing them about 3 inches apart. Or, if you will be baking the balls on different days, place each ball on a quarter sheet pan. Wrap the pan(s) airtight with a double layer of plastic wrap, sealing the wrap well under the pan(s). Put the pan(s) in a level spot in the refrigerator and refrigerate for 24 to 48 hours.
MASTER SWEET DOUGH
Provided by Melissa Roberts
Categories Bread Bake Vegetarian Kid-Friendly Bon Appétit Small Plates
Yield Makes 1 pound 10 ounces
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Heat milk in a small saucepan over medium heat or in a microwave until an instant-read thermometer registers 110°F-115°F. Transfer milk to a 2-cup measuring cup; stir in 1 tablespoon sugar. Sprinkle yeast over milk and whisk to blend. Let sit until yeast is foamy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs; whisk until smooth.
- Combine remaining 4 tablespoons sugar, flour, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add milk mixture. With mixer running, add 1/2 cup room-temperature butter, 1 piece at a time, blending well between additions. Mix on medium speed for 1 minute. Knead on medium-high speed until dough is soft and silky, about 5 minutes.
- Brush a medium bowl with some melted butter; place dough in bowl. Brush top of dough with remaining melted butter; cover with plastic wrap. (If making Sticky Buns , chill dough for 2 hours, then proceed with recipe.) DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with plastic; chill.
- Let dough rise in a warm, draft-free area until doubled in size, 1-1 1/2 hours (or 2-2 1/2 hours if dough has been refrigerated).
Tips:
- Mise en Place: Before beginning, ensure all ingredients are measured and ready for use. This will streamline the baking process.
- Water Temperature: Pay attention to the recommended water temperature for the specific dough recipe. It significantly impacts the yeast activation and fermentation process.
- Activate the Yeast Properly: Follow the recipe's instructions for activating the yeast, whether it's mixing it with warm water or milk or letting it sit in a warm place.
- Kneading Techniques: Learn and practice proper kneading techniques to develop the gluten in the dough, resulting in a strong and elastic structure.
- Time and Temperature: Allow sufficient time for the dough to rise, and maintain the appropriate temperature for optimal fermentation. Follow the recipe's guidelines for rising times and temperatures.
- Shaping and Baking: When shaping the dough before baking, ensure it's evenly distributed and free of air pockets. Bake the bread in a preheated oven at the specified temperature for the recommended duration.
- Cooling Before Slicing: Once the bread is baked, let it cool completely before slicing. This prevents the bread from crumbling or tearing.
Conclusion:
Mastering the art of bread-making requires patience, attention to detail, and practice. By following these tips and meticulously adhering to the recipes in this article, you will embark on a culinary journey that yields delicious, homemade bread. Experiment with different flavors and techniques to create a wide variety of loaves that will impress your family and friends. The satisfaction of biting into a warm, crusty loaf of bread that you made yourself is an experience that makes all the effort worthwhile. Embrace the process, learn from your experiences, and you will soon be baking perfect loaves of bread like a seasoned professional.
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