How do I make bread more firm?
So I have now successfully repeated a bread recipe twice. Both times it came out with a very tight grain and very spongy. The bread itself squishes easily and bounces back. I would like to make it more firm (so that it puts up with things like spreading cream cheese or butter more readily).
The recipe I am using is pretty much flour, water and yeast (and a little salt). It calls for three rising periods with two punch downs in between -- after the initial ten minute knead.
Is there something I can change in the way I knead? Something I can change in the recipe? How do I get less of a spongy texture and more of a chewy or firm one?
Best Answer
The first thing I would change is the final rising period before putting it in the oven. Cut that in half, so it doesn't have as much time to expand, and that should give you a denser loaf. You could also try substituting 25-50% whole wheat flour, which will both make it denser and more nutritious.
Pictures about "How do I make bread more firm?"
Why is my homemade bread so soft?
The main reason for making your crust go soft is moisture. This moisture comes from inside the bread so when cooling, you must give your bread enough room to breathe. Keep your bread on a cooling rack with enough space under it. Sugars, milk and other ingredients can also contribute to a soft crust.What makes bread thick and heavy?
Dense or heavy bread can be the result of not kneading the dough mix properly \u2013out of many reasons out there. Some of the other potential reasons could be mixing the yeast & salt together or losing your patience while baking or even not creating enough tension in the finished loaf before baking the bread.How do I make my bread less runny?
Your dough can become sticky when you add too much water or the flour isn't suitable for the type of dough you are making. Over proofing or fermenting the dough can also result in the gluten structure weakening causing sticky dough.The 7 Most Common Breadmaking Mistakes You’re Probably Making
More answers regarding how do I make bread more firm?
Answer 2
Yes, kneading well can yield a much firmer result without being denser. Learning how is the hard part. Faster and with more stretch and resistance must be taught and practiced. When the dough sits like a pert buttocks on the board (rather than a squishy baby's bottom) you have cracked it.
Increasing the salt content also has a tightening effect, if the recipe will allow.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Alex Green, George Milton, George Milton, Andy Kuzma