One of the greatest smells is that of fresh baked bread in the home. There are many different types of and different ways of making the perfect loaf.
The most important ingredient in your bread is the yeast. Make sure the kind you buy is fresh.
Active dry yeast, sold in individual packets, is the easiest type to use, and keeps well in your pantry. There is always a 'best if used by' date on the packages, and you should follow this rigorously.
If you are going to take the time to make bread, fresh yeast is essential. Cake yeast, if you can find it, really makes a wonderful loaf.
This form is fresh, stored in the refrigerator, and is very perishable. When you buy it, use it within one to two days or it may mold.
The temperature of the water, whether used to dissolve the yeast, or added to a flour mixture, is critical. Until you know when it should feel like to the touch, you should rely on a thermometer.
When it is dissolved in the water or other liquid, the temperature must be 110 to 115 degrees. When it is combined with flour and other dry ingredients, the liquid temperature can be up to about 120 to 130 degrees.
The flour you choose for your food also makes a difference in the quality of the final product. Bread flour makes a superior loaf because it is higher in protein content; which is what gives it its unique texture.
When water is added to flour, two proteins, glutenin, and gliadin, combine to form gluten. Gluten forms a network of proteins that stretch through the dough like a web, trapping air bubbles that form as the yeast ferments.
This creates the characteristic air holes of a perfect loaf. All purpose flour will also work just fine in most recipes.
Do not use cake flour because there is not enough protein in that type, and your food will fall because the structure will not be able to withstand the pressure of the gasses the yeast creates. Whole grain flours and other types of flour add color, texture, and flavor to foods.
These types do not have enough gluten to make a successful loaf on their own, so all purpose or flour is almost always added to provide structure. The type of liquid you use will change the bread characteristics.
Water will make a loaf that has more wheat flavor and a crisper crust. Milk and cream-based breads are richer, with a finer texture.
These types brown more quickly because of the additional sugar and butterfat added to the dough. Orange juice is a nice addition to whole wheat because its sweetness helps counter the stronger flavor of the whole grain.
Fats like oils, butter, and shortening add tenderness and flavor to bread. Foods made with these ingredients are also moister.
Make sure you do not use whipped butter or margarine, or low fat products, since they contain water. The composition of the dough will be weakened, and your loaf will fail.
Eggs add richness, color, and flavor to the dough and resulting foods. Sugar is the fuel that feeds yeast so it ferments, producing carbon dioxide that makes the bread rise.
Some recipes do not use sugar, but depend on sugars in the flour to provide food for the yeast. Salt is essential to every recipe.
It helps control yeast development, and prevents the bread from over rising. This contributes to good texture.
Salt also adds flavor to the food. It is possible to make salt-free breads, but other ingredients like vinegar or yogurt are added to help control the yeast growth.
Toppings can change the crust of the loaf. Egg glazes are used to attach other ingredients like nuts or seeds.
An egg yolk glaze will create a shiny, golden crust. Egg white glazes make a shiny, crisp crust.
For a chewy, crisp crust, spray the dough with water while it is baking. If you brush milk on the dough before baking, the crust will be softer and tender.
Brushing the baked loaf with butter will also make the crust softer. Enjoy experimenting with toppings and the recipes to make your own signature loaf.
Author Resource:-
Tom Selwick has worked the past 21 years in the food storage industry. He suggests buyingfood storage from a quality company so you know your food will last.
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