Common Mistakes When Baking Bread

Been baking bread at home?

Here’s our helpful guide on how to avoid the most common bread-making mistakes!

Kneading too much or too little

Over-kneading the dough can lead to dense, dry and tough bread.Kneading too little may not distribute ingredients evenly and will not develop enough strength for the dough to hold air bubbles.

Not using a digital scale

Cup measurements aren’t as precise and can throw off your dough. Use a digital scale to weigh your ingredients in  grams or ounces.

Adding too much flour when kneading bread by hand

Too much flour will change the texture of your loaf. Make sure to get your liquid-to-flour ratio right.

Underestimating the importance of liquid

Dough with the right liquid-to-flour ratio means that it shouldn’t stick to your hands or to the side of the mixing bowl.

Not covering your dough at all stages of breadmaking

Make sure to cover the dough with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Don’t leave the dough uncovered for a long period of time as air coming in contact with the dough will cause a skin to form.

Not realizing that your yeast is dead

If it’s improperly stored or has been sitting in the cupboard for a while, make sure to test it before using it. Put 1 packet of yeast in a half of a cup of warm water along with a teaspoon of sugar. If it starts to foam after 10 minutes, it’s okay to use it.

Preheating the oven

It’s important to preheat the oven for about 15-20 minutes, depending on your oven, to a specific temperature before baking bread. Breads usually require higher temperatures compared to cakes and pastries.