Bread Baking Tips and Tricks
Man cannot live on bread alone.
We have heard it countless of times in many variations depending on the religion in which the speaker is affiliated with.
Regardless, it only shows that amongst all of vast variety of foods we have on the table, the bread represents all that is good in life.
Or rather, it represents our very survival when our lives are stripped down to the basics.
It is indeed important to bake bread as best as you possibly can.
After all, breads can form the basis of the entire meal from the appetizer (dip bread) to the main course (pizza) to desserts (cinnamon rolls).
Well, here are tips and tricks to bake the perfect homemade bread.
Right Temperature When preheating the oven, you must set the temperature at 50 degrees higher than the recommended baking temperature.
As soon as the oven reaches the preheating temperature, place the bread dough inside, perform misting procedures and then lower the heat to the recommended baking temperature.
Keep in mind that breads can be baked anywhere from 350 degrees to 450 degrees.
As such, you may also experiment with the heat until you get the desired results in terms of crustiness and tenderness of the bread.
Take note that the emphasis is on experimentation when you have already acquired the necessary experience.
Right Shape The beauty of breads often lies in their different shapes, with texture and taste coming in a very, very close second.
Besides, the right shape of the bread dough affects how well it is cooked.
You will need to practice how to shape the bread dough especially as each one requires different techniques imposed either by tradition or by the type of dough.
For example, Viennese bread has tapered ends while the French bread known as fougasse is flat and rectangular.
Right Misting You must introduce humidity to the bread dough at the beginning of its baking cycle.
This allows the bread to take on a golden brown, crunchy crust that makes for one of life's pleasures.
To achieve this effect, you should place an empty, clean pan into the shelf below the baking pan as the oven preheats.
When you have placed the bread into the oven, pour a half cup of tap water into the preheated pan.
This will introduce steam into the whole setup.
You also need to mist the top of the bread dough using a clean spray bottle.
Immediately close the oven door after the misting but remember to do it again after 2-3 minutes for two more times.
After that, leave the bread to bake to its full cycle.
We have heard it countless of times in many variations depending on the religion in which the speaker is affiliated with.
Regardless, it only shows that amongst all of vast variety of foods we have on the table, the bread represents all that is good in life.
Or rather, it represents our very survival when our lives are stripped down to the basics.
It is indeed important to bake bread as best as you possibly can.
After all, breads can form the basis of the entire meal from the appetizer (dip bread) to the main course (pizza) to desserts (cinnamon rolls).
Well, here are tips and tricks to bake the perfect homemade bread.
Right Temperature When preheating the oven, you must set the temperature at 50 degrees higher than the recommended baking temperature.
As soon as the oven reaches the preheating temperature, place the bread dough inside, perform misting procedures and then lower the heat to the recommended baking temperature.
Keep in mind that breads can be baked anywhere from 350 degrees to 450 degrees.
As such, you may also experiment with the heat until you get the desired results in terms of crustiness and tenderness of the bread.
Take note that the emphasis is on experimentation when you have already acquired the necessary experience.
Right Shape The beauty of breads often lies in their different shapes, with texture and taste coming in a very, very close second.
Besides, the right shape of the bread dough affects how well it is cooked.
You will need to practice how to shape the bread dough especially as each one requires different techniques imposed either by tradition or by the type of dough.
For example, Viennese bread has tapered ends while the French bread known as fougasse is flat and rectangular.
Right Misting You must introduce humidity to the bread dough at the beginning of its baking cycle.
This allows the bread to take on a golden brown, crunchy crust that makes for one of life's pleasures.
To achieve this effect, you should place an empty, clean pan into the shelf below the baking pan as the oven preheats.
When you have placed the bread into the oven, pour a half cup of tap water into the preheated pan.
This will introduce steam into the whole setup.
You also need to mist the top of the bread dough using a clean spray bottle.
Immediately close the oven door after the misting but remember to do it again after 2-3 minutes for two more times.
After that, leave the bread to bake to its full cycle.
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