Help please - how to make bread

EvieSaver

Hi all, we need some help with bread.

We have tried many times to make bread but always fail. Our bread is always very dense and heavy. Could anyone post a simple recipe for us to follow please? We do not have a breadmaker - could this be the problem? We would really like the lovely smell of the bread baking to result in something nice to eat for a change.

Thank you all in advance.:)

BitterAndTwisted

It's probably not the recipe you need but to follow the method to the letter. Dense bread is often a result of not kneading and proving for long enough. Once you've got the method right and you're using proper high-gluten flour making bread is a doddle

This_Year

when I first made bread, I used Delia Smith's recipe.

if you Google "plain and simple white bread" it'll be the top of the list. HTH

happy35

also make sure you add enough water, I find a slightly wetter dough gives a softer bread

Funky_Bold_Ribena

What recipe are you using?

Sooki

This time of year is difficult as you need a warm draft proof place for the yeast to work effectively, I find using cling film instead of cloth over the bread helps.

I've resorted to easy bake yeast at the moment as my normal yeast isn't doing what it's meant to.

Make sure you are kneading the bread well this is hard work but very necessary, have you got a hand mixer with some dough hook attachments I find starting it of with the dough hooks is more efficient and less messy.

Are you using luke warm water, sugar & salt to activate the yeast?
Off the top of my head
Most recipes are
500 of strong flour
Little Packet of easy bake yeast
1 tablespoon of sugar
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of olive oil
Mix together

350 luke warm water added gradually mix in bowl with hand blender & dough hook attachments until all mixed well then try for about 4 minutes.

Tip onto a floured surface a knead for a least 6 minutes more, put back in bowl cover it in cling film and leave to rise at least double the size in a warm place ( not the oven) for about an hour.

Knead it again for 4 or 5 minutes on a floured surface.

Leave to rise for about 20 minutes - again covered in a warm place - in whatever your going to be cooking it in.

Stick in a preheated oven on 220 for about 35 minutes.

gibson123

Put music on when kneading bread, it's raining men following by I will survive, is just about the right amount of time for kneading and knocking back, do not over-flour your board.

suki1964

It's the kneading and proving that makes the bread

Kneading is hard work but you have to keep at it till you have a silky smooth dough. Then into a bowl , cover with a cloth and into the airing cupboard for a couple of hours till the dough is at least double the size

Tip it back out ( will be warm and smell lovely and yeasty) and knock it back - that means another short knead , then either put into the tin, or shape and put on a tray, cover and let raise again

Bread can't be rushed

A bread maker is great if you are out of the house all day and you just chuck everything in and 5 hours later, bread. But making it by hand really is a pleasure and apart from the proving time only takes 20 mins

Tillytrotter1

When I started making bread, I had the same problem with it being dense. I have recently started using Tesco strong white bread flour and use the quantities as listed on the packet. However, to begin with I put the packet of yeast with the sugar and some of the lukewarm water and mix in the bowl while I get the rest of the ingredients ready and wait for it to become frothy. I saw the Hairy Bikers do this and I think it just gives the yeast a head start. I then knead in the Kenwood chef fitted with the dough hook and then hand knead for about 2 mins. Since doing this I have had really good results with my bread. Make sure you give it long enough to prove though as this makes a huge difference.

Agree with the other poster, you really can't rush bread.

Hope this helps.

honeythewitch

Tillytrotter1 wrote: »

When I started making bread, I had the same problem with it being dense. I have recently started using Tesco strong white bread flour and use the quantities as listed on the packet. However, to begin with I put the packet of yeast with the sugar and some of the lukewarm water and mix in the bowl while I get the rest of the ingredients ready and wait for it to become frothy. I saw the Hairy Bikers do this and I think it just gives the yeast a head start. I then knead in the Kenwood chef fitted with the dough hook and then hand knead for about 2 mins. Since doing this I have had really good results with my bread. Make sure you give it long enough to prove though as this makes a huge difference.

Agree with the other poster, you really can't rush bread.

Hope this helps.

What does kneading it by hand do that the Kenwood doesn't? Could it be the warmth of your hands that makes a difference?

abailey54

I've been having the same problem and I've literally just found out that the dried yeast I've been using is not the same as the stuff in the sachets and you have reactivate it with warm water first - just as I was switching the bread-maker on I noticed the bit on the front that says 'not suitable for bread makers' - oops