Adjusting Bread flavor

Adjusting Bread flavor - Unrecognizable female kneading soft fresh egg dough on cutting board with flour in kitchen

I just found a lovely recipe to make a super crusty bread in my dutch oven. The texture is lovely and the crust is fantastic! However, the bread didn't rise much and the flavor is a little flat.

The recipe is

  • 6 cups flour
  • 3/4 tsp yeast
  • 2 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 3 1/2 cups water.

I think if I add sugar and mix with the yeast and water I'll have a better rise and better flavor. I would like to add a fat to add more flavor as well. I don't know enough about food science to know the ratios and what the impact of those additions might be. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks,



Best Answer

Considering the amount of flour used, the basic bread proportions are:

  • Water: 60% the weight of the flour. Of course this percentage may vary among the different recipes (even above 100%).
  • Salt: 2%
  • Fresh yeast: 1%

It may seem a tiny amount of yeast, but the trick is that in order to make bread, you just need time. Time for the yeast to do its job. If you leave the bread to rest for a while (a couple of hours or even more in a banneton before putting it in the Dutch oven) you will get a better rise and flavour. Also, as Stephie said, use very good quality flours. Both things combined and you're done. No need to add sugar, fat or other things.

If you do not have the time, adding more yeast will reduce the resting (and rising) time, but the bread will get less flavour. But if your bread is going to be very hydrated (as it seems), I would really recommend to have patience in the process of kneading and letting rest the bread before cooking it.




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Quick Answer about "Adjusting Bread flavor"

Fermenting at a Cooler Temperature will Give Sourdough Bread a More Sour Flavor Profile. Temperature is one of the easiest ways to adjust the flavor of your sourdough bread. Remember, the longer your dough ferments, the more sour the flavor will be.

How can you change the flavor of bread?

Butter and especially stronger oils, such as walnut, can also add flavor to bread. Dry milk powder adds flavor to bread and can soften its texture, as in the case of this basic white sourdough.

How do you make bread taste less bland?

You can replace a proportion of the white flour with a whole grain flour to create a completely different tasting bread. Try adding 20% whole wheat flour to start, such as 400g white and 100g whole wheat. You can take this further by using a rye flour which adds a greyish tint and distinct taste.

Why does my homemade bread taste so bland?

Your bland bread could be the result of rushing the process. Try a slow overnight rise in the refrigerator. Plan ahead to proof your loaf overnight. This hands-off time in the icebox will slow the fermentation process in your dough and result in a complex-flavored loaf.

What affects the flavor of bread?

Flour contains many aroma precursors, which can be revealed through the natural enzymatic actions of yeast and bacteria. Therefore the flavors and aromas in bread will depend mainly on the type of flour used, and fermentation and baking techniques.



Five simple ways to add more flavours to your bread




More answers regarding adjusting Bread flavor

Answer 2

As already mentioned, your choice of flour is important. So too the quantity of yeast and time to rise can make a significant difference. The most direct change would be to add 2 tbs of Sugar, honey, or (real) maple syrup. As additional fuel for the yeast this should allow you to suffice with a shorter rise. You may also enjoy adding some savory herbs to the mix.

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

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