How to Bake Bread: from Amateur to Artisan

If watching bread week on Bake Off makes you curious about whether you could replicate any of those recipes at home, fear not! You don’t have to worry about starting with a super complicated speciality or artisan bread. In fact, February is the perfect time to start at the very beginning of your bread journey by helping to celebrate Real Bread Week (19-26 Feb). #RealBreadWeek is an annual celebration of ‘real bread’ (that’s bread that’s been handmade and is free from additives) that raises money for the charity Sustain.

As well as encouraging people to buy real bread from their local, independent bakeries, they also encourage people to bake their own bread from scratch. 

 

So, whether you’re a sourdough superfan or you love baked camembert in bread; it’s time to dust off your apron, roll up your sleeves and get back to basics.

Delve into the world of real bread and read on for our 10 top tips on how to bake bread.

 

If, like us, you watched the lockdown trend of sourdough starters with a growing sense of confusion; the first step to baking bread is to find the right recipe for you. If you’ve never baked bread before, starting with something incredibly complicated isn’t the best way to get delicious results. The Real Bread site has pages and pages of different bread recipes to browse, so that’s a great place to start. Be conscious of your bread baking temperature, as this varies depending on many factors. Though most experts would recommend baking bread between 180 and 246C as standard, it's advisable you do some in-depth research depending on the type of bread and the filling.

 

Once you’ve picked your bread recipe, the chances are it’s going to involve yeast. Keep in mind that there are THREE main kinds of yeast: fresh, fast-acting dried and active dried. Each of these reacts differently and requires different circumstances to rise - so check carefully. Fast-acting yeast is the easiest kind to use for baking beginners (it’s also the one you’re most likely to find in recipes for bread machines).

The first time you try a recipe, it’s worth following it to the letter - including the flour type suggestion. However, once you’ve got the hang of the basics, you can experiment a bit with the different brands and qualities of flours on offer. Even within the ‘white flour’ category, you can see some very different results! Play around with the flour combination until you bake your perfect batch.

Bread is one of those things where exact measurements really do matter. Slight differences in the quantities of water, salt, flour or yeast can change the bake, and taste of your bread. Investing in a clever set of kitchen scales like this Precision 15kg Electronic Kitchen Scale gives you clear, precise and accurate readings of up to 15kgs.

 

Depending on the kind of yeast you’re using and the recipe you’re following, your bread dough will probably need time to prove (rise) before baking. This is a very important step - probably THE most important step in the bread-making process, so it can’t be rushed.

The dough needs to be proved long enough to give you a light, fluffy loaf - but not for too long. Read the recipe carefully, and if you haven’t got time to do a proper proof, choose a recipe for a dough-like soda bread, which doesn’t need to rise.

 

Once your dough has risen and you’re ready to bake, it’s time to make sure you have the right tools for the job. Yes, we’re talking about bread forms. These are specially designed tins that will give your bread its distinctive ‘loaf’ shape. Choose a good quality form like this Mason Cash version, which has an unglazed terracotta interior to absorb excess moisture from your dough to give you a properly crispy crust.

 

If you haven’t got the time to put into making proper bread dough (or you’ve made a few attempts and become frustrated with the whole idea) then worry not - there is a solution. Investing in an innovative bread maker lets you have delicious, freshly baked bread whenever you like with minimal hassle. If you’re pressed for time, products like the Tower 650w Bread Maker have a rapid bake function that’ll have your whole house smelling like freshly-baked bread in under an hour.

 

Once your precious loaf has come out of the oven and cooled, you’ll want to make sure it stays fresh for days (assuming it will last that long without being scoffed!) Choose a bread bin with a tight seal and keep it in a cool part of your kitchen (but not in the fridge). We love the bright white colour and wooden elements of this Embossed Bread Bin. You can also freeze bread as a whole loaf, or sliced, to keep it handy for longer.

 

There’s no point in baking a beautiful loaf and then hacking it to pieces. Whether you prefer thick or thin cut; neat, even slices are a must. For one thing, wedge-shaped slices don’t fit properly in a toaster or make for an attractive (or tasty) sarnie. Invest in a quality bread knife and a good solid chopping board to make the task easier. The quirky bread shape of this Oak Chopping Board feels very apropos.

 

Whether you like yours barely toasted or blackened and crispy, there’s nothing quite like a slice of toast made from freshly-baked bread, especially when you slaved over it yourself. For a simple slice of bread, there’s no need for all the bells and whistles; as long as your chosen toaster has an adjustable heat strength setting so you don’t accidentally burn your beloved bread, you’re on to a winner. A petite, 2-Slice Toaster is a great option for smaller kitchens (or smaller households!) as it will tuck away neatly in a corner.

 

So, there you have it. Ten top tips on how to bake bread. Paul Hollywood won’t know what’s hit him. 

If this blog has inspired you to spice up your kitchen space, though you lack imagination when it comes to using your area, check out our 9 must-have kitchen appliances for the small kitchen.