Tips and Hints
Experienced cooks consider breadmaking to be as much art as science.
Keep in mind that some recipes may require a little experimentation
before they are exactly the way you want them. Just don't give up.
Still, there are special hints to ensuring quality bread almost every time.
Use Exact Measurements
We've already mentioned how important it is
to use exact measurements when baking bread,
but it should be said again. Level off all dry
ingredients and make sure that all liquid
ingredients are measured in a glass cup with
the markings clearly labeled on the side.
Use Fresh Ingredients
You should always use fresh ingredients. The reasons are:
Flour. If you have stored your flour for a long time, it may have
become wet from absorbing moisture, or dry, depending on the
area of the country in which you live. We recommend using fresh
bread flour.
Yeast. Fresh yeast is probably the most important ingredient
in baking bread. If the yeast is not fresh, your bread may not rise.
It is better to buy new yeast than to take a chance on yeast that
has been stored for a long time.
You can test the freshness of your yeast. Simply fill a cup with warm water,
then add and stir in 2 tsp. of sugar.
Sprinkle a few tsp. of yeast on the surface of the water and wait.
After 15 minutes, the yeast should foam and there should be distinct odor.
If neither reaction happens, the yeast is old and should be thrown away.
Add Ingredients in the order given according to the recipe.
Read all recipes from top to bottom, and remember:
FIRST
—
— SECOND : dry ingredients
— LAST : yeast
: liquid ingredients
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