Idiot Proof White Bread Recipes

IDIOT PROOF WHITE BREAD

Steps:

• Mix the flour and table salt in a large bowl.
• Rub in the fresh yeast, or stir in the easy-blend yeast.
• Add the oil and tap water and mix to combine.
• tip onto a lightly floured surface and knewad for 6 minutes.
• Put back into the bowl and seta aside to rise for about 1 hour.
• Knock back the dough by punching the air out of it. Shape into a ball and put on a large, lined baking tray.
• Set aside to rise for about 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 220 C / fan 200 / gas 7.
• Dust the loaf with flour and cut a deep cross in the top.
• Bake for 30-35 minutes, until cooked an golden brown. It should sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.
• He recommends slicing it into 8 huge slices like a cake to eat. We love it this way, but more usually we cut it into normal bread slices, probably about 12 of them.
• Notes:.
• Make sure that the salt is well mixed into the flour because if salt comes into diret contact with the yeast it'll kill it (think salt on slugs -- ).
• Using warm water is one of those things perpetuated in recipe books written by cooks who made the odd loaf but weren't bakers. Warm water speeds up the rising process, but it's to the detriment of flavour (says baker Paul Hollywood).
• Kneading - use a really lightly floured surface, like a dusting of talcum powder - and knead lightly with the heel of your palm and finger tips.
• There's no need to cover the dough when rising (I did - Chef UK). Sometimes, if you've left it for a long time, it gets a thickening on the outside, but don't worry. There's no need to find a warm place either; just anywhere out of your way. It'll take longer to rise, but the flavour will be better. The dough is ready when doubled in size. Knocking it back when it has risen will improve the flavour. Shape the loaf rather than knead it (although I knead it lightly for 1-2 minutes Chef UK) - add olives or chopped nuts at this stage too.

PERFECT WHITE BREAD

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, heat milk until it bubbles. Remove from heat and add the sugar, salt and shortening. Cool to lukewarm. While milk mixture is cooling, dissolve yeast in warm water and let stand until creamy.
• Combine cooled milk mixture with yeast and water in a large mixing bowl. Stir in 2 cups of the flour, then add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, to make a moderately stiff dough. Knead on a lightly floured surface for 8 to 10 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and turn to coat the dough. Cover the bowl with a damp towel and let rise in a warm place until the dough has doubled in volume (about 1 1/4 hours).
• Lightly grease two 9x5 inch loaf pans. Punch down the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Shape into 2 balls, cover and let rest 10 minutes. Shape dough into 2 loaves and place in pans; let rise until doubled (about 1 hour). Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes or until the top is golden and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.

CRUSTY WHITE BREAD

Steps:

• In a small mixing bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in the warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the yeast mixture with the milk, the butter or margarine, 4 cups of the flour and the salt; stir until well combined. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and supple, about 8 minutes.
• Lightly oil a large mixing bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and put in a warm place to rise until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal pieces and form into loaves. Place the loaves into two lightly greased 9x5 inch loaf pans. Cover the loaves with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes.
• Mist loaves with water and bake at 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) oven for 20 to 30 minutes or until the loaves are golden brown and the bottom of a loaf sounds hollow when tapped.