Homemade bread is a total stress reliever. If you are a bread addict then, take a moment to set all things aside by spending a few minutes to prepare bread dough. Watch it rise then, enjoy the fresh scent of the hot bread steaming through the oven vents.
Ingredient for Making Homemade Bread
- All-purpose flour
- Dry yeast
- Table salt
- Butter
- Milk
- Granulated sugar
- Vegetable oil
- Warm water
How to Make Homemade Bread
Step 1: Dissolve the yeast and activate it by proofing. Combine warm water, yeast and 1 tbsp of the granulated sugar in the mixing bowl. You can give it quick stir and leave for about 5 minutes. Then, you will begin to see the yeast puff up until it covers the entire surface of the water.
Step 2: Add the rest of the sugar, the oil, salt and flour. Then, mix them using an electric mixer until it is well combined, about 2 minutes. You can also mix by hand but it will take longer.
Step 3: You need to knead the bread dough. Kneading dough allows gluten to form which enables dough to rise better, be lighter and fluffier. You can knead by hand or with a mixer.
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Step 4: Place the bread dough in an oiled bowl and cover it with plastic wrap or a clean towel. Depending on the weather, the dough can take time to rise.
Step 5: Try to punch the dough down to help release any air pocket that have developed. This helps your bread to have more consistent rise and texture. Shape your dough by rolling it gently into a ball and rolling it 2 or 3 times on the countertop so that the ball is more oblong.
Step 6: Bake the bread. Most times, bread bakes for about 30 to 40 minutes. Fully cooked bread will be 190-200 degree F but bread recipes that include milk will need to cook until 200 degrees. Make sure the top is golden brown.
Lastly, to avoid a soggy bread, make sure you cool baked bread in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes, then overturn loaf out onto a cooling rack or folded towel to finish cooling. Do not leave in the pan for much time!