How to Bake Bread

Here we’ll cover the basics. You’ll see what ingredients and equipment you need, and follow our step-by-step bread baking guide. We’ve answered all your FAQs and provided our top tips too. Once you’ve mastered the basics, soon you’ll be trying our ciabatta, tiger and classic white loaf recipes as well. 
Here’s how to bake bread.   

In this simple recipe, you only need these five ingredients: 
• Bread flour 
• Fresh yeast 
• Salt 
• Water 
• Olive oil 

You need the following equipment to bake your bread: 
• Mixing bowl 
• Silicone spatula or wooden spoon 
• Measuring cup/Weighing scales
• Thermometer (Optional)
• Baking Tray 

1- Add the flour, fresh yeast, water, olive oil and salt into a mixing bowl. Use a spatula or spoon to mix. At first the mixture may seem dry but keep mixing until all the ingredients are combined. Use your hands to bring everything together and your dough will feel slightly sticky.

2- On a lightly floured surface, kneed the bread for 10 minutes, until it becomes smooth and pliable.

3- Once kneaded into a smooth ball, cover the dough with a damp clean tea towel and let it rise at room temperature for two to three hours until it has doubled in size.  

4- Once you’re ready to use your dough, lightly dust your surface with flour and turn out your dough. You now need to shape your dough into the desired shape, and pop onto a lightly dusted baking tray. Again, you need to cover your dough with a damp cloth or cling film, making sure you don’t wrap it too tight. Leave to rest for 40-45 minutes until doubled in size. 

5- Preheat your oven to 200°C-220°C fan.(At this stage you can score your bread with a shallow cut.) Before you put your loaf in the oven, pour boiling water into a baking dish and place this on the bottom rack. Immediately put your loaf in and shut the door to trap the steam. The steam helps to create the crisp crust.  

6- Bake your loaf for about 25 minutes, until it looks golden brown. To check if it’s ready, gently tap the loaf. If it sounds hollow, it’s done.

7- Leave your bread to cool for at least five minutes before slicing. Leftovers can be loosely covered at room temperature for up to five days and in the fridge for up to 10 days.

If you want to make the bread the day before then you can either use your dough straightaway or for more flavour, you can leave it to refrigerate for 12-72 hours. This would be done after stage 2.  During this time, the cold air will slow the fermentation process and intensify flavour and texture. 
Why not check out our recipe for Classic White Bread Loaf Recipe.

Fresh yeast is a mix of yeast and water that comes in the form of a crumbly solid block. It’s super easy to use and has a better rising quality. Fresh yeast provides a robust flavour and faster fermentation but has a shorter shelf life. However, you would need to use twice as much fresh yeast than you would dried yeast. Dried yeast is convenient, long-lasting, and versatile, making it a good choice for most home bakers 

To speed up the bread rise, make sure your water is tepid to the touch, about 21°C. You can use your thermometer to check. If you use hot water, it could kill the yeast and stop it from working. If the water is too cold, it will slow down the yeast and fermentation process. 

Sugar feeds the yeast, enhancing fermentation and adding sweetness. Salt controls yeast activity, too much salt can make the yeast inactive resulting in the bread not rising. However, salt is also key in bread, as it strengthens gluten structure and enhances flavour. Both ingredients are essential for a balanced taste and texture. 

Being precise with your measurements is crucial for a tasty loaf. By being accurate with your flour, water, yeast, and salt you’ll make sure your dough has the proper consistency, fermentation and flavour. To keep things consistent, use a kitchen scale. You’ll get better results this way.  

Soda Bread is a type of quick bread which is super easy to make. It is made with bicarbonate of soda instead of yeast for the rise. So you wont need to spend much time kneading the dough. It also uses buttermilk instead of warm water. As you are using bicarbonate of soda, you wont need to a warm liquid to activate it.
Check out our super easy recipe for Soda Bread Recipe. 

Sweet bread is a delightful and versatile baked treat, perfect for cinnamon buns, milk bread, or Chelsea buns. It has a light, airy texture and slightly sugary flavour. It is made with  milk, butter, eggs, and sugar, which helps with it's rich taste and moist crumb. 

Why not check out our easy recipe for Chocolate and Vanilla Swirl Bread Recipe 

Brown bread has a rich, hearty flavour and dense texture. Made with whole grain flours like whole wheat or rye. brown bread has lots more fibre, vitamins, and minerals compared to white bread. Ideal for sandwiches, toast, or simply enjoyed with a spread of butter, brown bread is a versatile and satisfying choice that supports a balanced diet.
Why not check out our recipe for Classic Wholemeal Bread Recipe

Tiger bread, has a delightful loaf characteristic with its unique and striking crust pattern. The bread is named for its mottled, tiger-like appearance, which is achieved by coating the dough with a rice flour paste before baking. This paste dries and cracks during baking, creating a distinctive and crispy crust. Inside, tiger bread is typically soft and fluffy, making it a perfect choice for sandwiches or simply enjoying with a spread of butter. 
Why not check out our recipe for Tiger Bread Recipe.

How do you store baked bread?  
To store your loaf, simply cover it and keep it at room temperature for up to five days. You can also keep it covered in the fridge for up to 10 days.  


Why is yeast used to bake bread?  
Yeast is used in bread baking to ferment sugars, which produces carbon dioxide gas that makes the dough rise. This creates a light, airy texture and enhances the bread's flavour. 


Can you bake bread in a slow cooker? 
Yes, you can bake bread in a slow cooker. It produces a moist, tender loaf with a soft crust, offering a convenient alternative to traditional oven baking. 


How to make bread without yeast and baking powder? 
To make bread without yeast or baking powder, use self-rising flour or a combination of flour, salt, and baking soda with an acid like buttermilk. This creates a quick bread. 


How long does bread take to bake? 
Bread typically takes 25-45 minutes to bake, depending on the type and size of the loaf. It's done when the crust is golden brown, and it sounds hollow when tapped. 


What’s better for baking bread, dried yeast or fast action yeast? 
Fast-action yeast is better for quick baking as it activates faster and requires no proofing. Dried yeast, while slower, offers more flavour and is ideal for traditional recipes. 


Can you bake bread in the air fryer?
Air fryers are taking home cooking by storm. So, can you bake bread in the air fryer? Absolutely! Not only is it simple, but you’ll end up with a loaf boasting a crispy and golden crust with a light and fluffy inside.  

To use an air fryer, follow the steps above to make your dough. Then make sure you grease your air fryer basket with oil. Once greased, place your dough in your basket and let it rest for 45 minutes to let it rise. Set your air fryer to 200°C and cook for around 15 minutes. Then reduce the temperature to 180°C and bake for another 20-25 minutes or until your loaf is golden brown.  

With simple ingredients and easy-to-follow steps, anyone can create delicious, homemade bread. Start with our basic recipe and experiment as you gain confidence. And there’s no time like the present to give it a go. After all, a freshly baked loaf is a little way to make a big difference.  

And once you’ve mastered the basics, why not give some of our other recipes a go? We love a salty snack of soft pretzels, an afternoon delight with our White Bread Rolls Recipe or cinnamon rolls for a family brunch.