Making my own bread

[Deleted User]

Anyone have any tips?
Recipes?
The pros of plain flour vs self raising flour vs bread flour?
Best yeast to buy?
I am a complete beginner/n00b to this. :rotfl:

Nile

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere (please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com"]forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

**professor~yaffle**

I can recommend Shipton Mill flour. It makes a lovely loaf of bread and is worth paying a bit extra for.

With regard to what kind of flour I'd say either use all bread flour or 2-thirds bread flour and one-third plain. If you make it with just plain flour it will be a bit heavy.

I guess the type of yeast will depend on personal preference. I tend to buy yeast powder, rather than fresh yeast. You just stir it into the flour and hot(ish) water will activate it. There's no need to pre-soak it.

Good luck with your bread-making. You will notice it tastes a lot different to ordinary shop-bought sliced bread

msb5262

Hi OP,
It depends if you want to make ordinary bread or sourdough...I've used plain flour in the past to make a kind of sourdough like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_kmSalsNgM&list=PLDBB1BBD0A12C8C75&index=1
but if you want to make ordinary bread, you'll need strong (bread) flour.
The kind of yeast you buy depends again on what sort of recipe you want to use. For the sourdough type recipe above, I just buy supermarket own brand easy blend yeast.
Main thing = read the recipe carefully for whatever you want to make. I find watching recipe videos on Youtube or whermver is a great way to decide what will suit me.
HTH
MsB

[Deleted User]

Thanks all.

I was looking to make ordinary bread to start off with, just until I get used to making it and then I can move on from there.
I guess I'll have to have a scout around our area for yeast and bread flour then - never something I take a lot of notice of usually!

BitterAndTwisted

If you have a branch of Lidl near you they sell strong bread four quite cheaply. Cheaper than the main supermarkets that I've looked in. Plus sachets of dried yeast at 14 pence a sachet the last time I looked.

[Deleted User]

There is actually, I'll have a look when I'm next down in the main town. Thanks

Margaret54

Hi I have never made my own bread by hand. I got very tired of shop bought and after reading great reviews I bought a Panasonic Breadmaker, and have been delighted with it over the years. I am going to be more adventurous with it:) Hope you enjoy making your own bread by hand, I am sure it will be very satisfying to do. I know a few people who do this and they say it is therapeutic, relaxing and the home smells wonderful:)