Bake Bread Like a Pro: Step-by-Step Techniques and Tips

There’s something magical about baking your own bread. The smell of freshly baked bread filling your home, the satisfaction of slicing through a golden crust, and the delight of biting into a soft, warm loaf – it’s an experience like no other. If you’ve ever wanted to bake bread like a professional baker, you’re in the right place. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to master the art of bread baking.

Getting Started: The Essentials

Before you dive into baking, it’s important to gather the right tools and ingredients.

Tools:

• Mixing bowls
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Digital scale
• Dough scraper
• Bench knife
• Proofing basket (banneton)
• Dutch oven or baking stone
• Lame or sharp knife for scoring
• Cooling rack

Ingredients:

• Flour (bread flour, all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour)
• Water
• Yeast (active dry yeast or instant yeast)
• Salt
• Optional: sugar, honey, olive oil, seeds, nuts

Step-by-Step Bread Baking Process

1. Choose Your Recipe: Start with a simple recipe, like a basic white or whole wheat bread. As you become more comfortable, you can explore more complex recipes.
2. Mixing the Dough: Combine your ingredients. Here’s a basic formula:
   • 500g flour
   • 350g water (70% hydration)
   • 10g salt
   • 2g yeast Mix until all ingredients are combined and you have a shaggy dough.
3. Autolyse: Let the dough rest for 20-30 minutes. This helps hydrate the flour and starts gluten development.
4. Kneading: Knead the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic. This can take about 10-15 minutes by hand or 8-10 minutes in a stand mixer.
5. First Rise (Bulk Fermentation): Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a damp cloth or plastic wrap, and let it rise until it doubles in size. This usually takes 1-2 hours depending on the room temperature.
6. Shaping the Dough: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently deflate it and shape it into a round or oblong loaf. Place it seam side up in a floured proofing basket or on a floured kitchen towel.
7. Second Rise (Proofing): Let the shaped dough rise until it has increased in size and passes the “poke test” – a gentle poke should slowly spring back. This can take 1-2 hours.
8. Preheating the Oven: Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). If using a Dutch oven, place it in the oven to heat up as well.
9. Scoring the Dough: Carefully turn the dough out onto a piece of parchment paper or a floured baking peel. Use a lame or sharp knife to score the top of the dough. This allows the bread to expand properly in the oven.
10. Baking:
    • Dutch Oven Method: Place the dough (with parchment) into the preheated Dutch oven, cover with the lid, and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the lid and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes until the crust is deep golden brown.
    • Baking Stone Method: Transfer the dough directly onto the preheated stone, add steam to the oven by pouring water into a preheated pan at the bottom, and bake for 30-35 minutes.
11. Cooling: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack for at least an hour before slicing. This ensures the crumb sets properly.

Tips for Perfect Bread

• Hydration: Higher hydration doughs (more water) can create a more open crumb with larger holes, which is desirable in artisanal bread.
• Temperature Control: Keep an eye on your dough’s temperature. Cooler dough will rise slower, while warmer dough will rise faster.
• Steam: Adding steam during the first part of baking helps develop a crisp crust. You can achieve this with a Dutch oven or by adding water to a pan in the oven.
• Practice Patience: Don’t rush the process. Allowing adequate time for fermentation and proofing is key to developing flavor and texture.

Common Bread Baking Issues and Solutions

• Dense Bread: This can be due to under-kneading, not allowing the dough to rise long enough, or using too much flour.
• Flat Loaf: Often caused by over-proofing or not scoring the dough properly.
• Burnt Crust, Undercooked Interior: Try lowering the oven temperature slightly and baking longer, or ensure your oven is properly calibrated.

Delicious Bread Recipes to Try

1. Classic White Bread:
   • Ingredients: 500g bread flour, 320g water, 10g salt, 7g yeast.
   • Method: Follow the basic steps outlined above.
2. Whole Wheat Bread:
   • Ingredients: 250g whole wheat flour, 250g bread flour, 350g water, 10g salt, 7g yeast.
   • Method: Same steps, with a slightly longer bulk fermentation for more flavor.
3. Sourdough Bread:
   • Ingredients: 500g bread flour, 375g water, 10g salt, 100g active sourdough starter.
   • Method: Mix ingredients, autolyse, stretch and fold during bulk fermentation, shape, and proof overnight in the fridge. Bake as described.

FAQs

Q: How do I store homemade bread? A: Store your bread in a paper bag or wrapped in a clean kitchen towel to keep the crust crisp. For longer storage, slice and freeze the bread, then toast slices as needed.

Q: Can I use all-purpose flour instead of bread flour? A: Yes, but bread flour has higher protein content, which helps with gluten development and creates a better structure.

Q: What if my dough isn’t rising? A: Check your yeast’s expiration date, ensure the dough is in a warm place, and give it more time. Cooler temperatures slow down the rise.

Q: How do I get a really crisp crust? A: Bake with steam for the first part of the baking process and ensure the oven is preheated properly.

Final Thoughts

Baking bread is a rewarding and delicious skill to master. With practice and patience, you’ll soon be turning out loaves that rival those from professional bakeries. Remember, every loaf is a learning experience, so don’t be afraid to experiment and adjust based on your results.

So, roll up your sleeves, preheat that oven, and start baking like a pro!