Baking bread at home is a rewarding experience that fills your kitchen with the comforting aroma of freshly baked goods. Here’s a simple guide to making basic homemade bread:
1. Gather Your Ingredients
- Flour: 3 ½ cups of all-purpose or bread flour
- Yeast: 2 ¼ teaspoons (1 packet) of active dry yeast
- Sugar: 1 tablespoon of sugar
- Salt: 2 teaspoons of salt
- Warm Water: 1 ¼ cups (around 110°F or 45°C)
- Oil or Butter: 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil or melted butter
2. Prepare the Dough
Activate the Yeast:
- In a large bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Stir gently and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy. This means the yeast is active.
Mix the Dough:
- Add the flour, salt, and oil or butter to the yeast mixture. Stir until the ingredients come together to form a sticky dough.
Knead the Dough:
- Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Knead it for about 8-10 minutes, adding small amounts of flour as needed to prevent sticking. The dough should become smooth, elastic, and slightly tacky.
3. Let the Dough Rise
- First Rise:
- Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm, draft-free area for about 1-2 hours, or until it doubles in size.
- Punch Down:
- After the dough has risen, gently punch it down to release the air.
4. Shape the Dough
- Form the Loaf:
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and shape it into a loaf. You can make it round or place it into a greased loaf pan for a traditional shape.
- Second Rise:
- Cover the shaped dough with a towel and let it rise again for about 30-45 minutes until it puffs up.
5. Bake the Bread
Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Bake:
- Place the bread in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
Cool:
- Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack before slicing.
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