handmade bread

Woofles

northwest1965 wrote: »

I want to make some bread but have just realised that my fresh yeast is in the freezer. Do I have to let it fully defrost or can i just mix it with the warm water anyway?

While its proving I normally use some oiled cling film to cover, could I just use a damp teatowel?

Thats all I ever use, a damp tea towel, a clean one though, its past its best (a bit like me) but perfect for that.

Not sure about the yeast, but don't see why not.

tomterm8

Joe_L wrote: »

I notice that many here seem to measure their ingredients. I've decided, in the spirit of the OP, to just roughly measure. Well, actually, the only things I measure is the tablespoon of yeast. The rest is done by hunch. I put just enough liquid into the mix to make it sloppy, but just stiff enough. So far they've all turned out different and all with their merits. What I've found out is that it does need salt for taste--I forgot to add salt in the last loaf.

I think that it is very important to measure salt, but even if you measure perfectly you can only get 90% of the way with flour, since different batches of flour absorb different amount of water. As long as you put a reasonable amount of yeast in, it doesn't seem to make much difference. When I start a new recipy, I use a lot of measuring to try to get it as close to the original intent as possible, but as time goes by you get a good idea of the amount you need without too much measuring.

Saban

Hi all,
I made some lovely rolls using your recipe thriftlady thank you! Proving the bread overnight in the fridge really does improve the flavour.

How do you all store your bread once its made? Just straight in the bread bin or is plastic bags best?

Thanks!

thriftlady_2

Saban wrote: »

How do you all store your bread once its made? Just straight in the bread bin or is plastic bags best?

Thanks!

I'm a fan of the freezer for storing bread. I put bread for immediate consumption in the bread bin and freeze the rest.

Glad you enjoyed your rolls;)

northwest1965

This weekend I'm going to have a go at baking a loaf in a tin. This probably sounds a stupid question but if I use a 2lb loaf tin do I put a 1lb of dough mix in it?

zippychick

ohhh i am guessing here NW but i think you fill it two thirds up? that's what i would do.....

nick_b

thriftlady wrote: »

I'm a fan of the freezer for storing bread. I put bread for immediate consumption in the bread bin and freeze the rest.

Glad you enjoyed your rolls;)

I'm sure you do this already, so please don't think I'm being patronising. A good tip is to cut the bread before freezing, so you only have to take out what you need to eat. One problem with freezing the bread is that when defrosted it goes stale quicker than fresh bread, or so I've heard. (Apparently it's something to do with starch crystalising faster.) Therefore, once you've defrosted the whole lof you have to eat it *really* fast!

thriftlady_2

nick_b wrote: »

I'm sure you do this already, so please don't think I'm being patronising. A good tip is to cut the bread before freezing, so you only have to take out what you need to eat. One problem with freezing the bread is that when defrosted it goes stale quicker than fresh bread, or so I've heard. (Apparently it's something to do with starch crystalising faster.) Therefore, once you've defrosted the whole lof you have to eat it *really* fast!

Good idea, but unecessary for my family, one loaf lasts us about two days so has no time to go stale.

queen_of_string

Thank you for your marvellous thread, I have recently become a homemaker, having allways worked fulltime, and making bread is one of the things that are keeping me (fairly) sane!!

Currently got a set of thriftlady's rolls and D&DD's apple braid proving, will let you know how I get on.

I want to try strawberry bread next. I buy huge bags of frozen fruit ( I'm in Canada) but I am not keen on the strawbs in the mix, am thinking a sweet bread might be a good way to use them up and the kids will eat them as one of their 5 a day :-)

zippychick

QOS, here is also a thread on what to do with a glut of strawberries. You may get other ideas too!