So you have decided that you want to give bread making a try, but where do you start? Bread making at its core is a few simile ingredients and a general (but specific) set of steps that will be followed each time and each impact your end result. By first understanding the basics new bakers can quickly build confidence and join a centuries old tradition. The sections below not only provide a basic guide but also a social aspect as seen in the Reddit thread r/BreadIt where people of all skill levels post questions, help other, and show off their own experiments.
“The ingredients needed to make bread are incredibly simple, and you’re almost guaranteed to have the majority of what you need already at home.” (Bread Baking 101 for Beginners). While simple bread recipes only call for a handful of ingredients, each of them are key in the texture and flavor of your final product. Yeast is what brings your bread to “life”. It is responsible for the rise and taste of the bread. You have to give your yeast time to bloom and activate before it can be added to the rest of your ingredients. Flour is the foundation of your bread, making sure you properly knead and work your dough will encourage the development of glutens and the type of flour will also determine the protein levels in your bread.
“Every step in making bread has a precise purpose. When you mix ingredients like flour, water, yeast, and salt, you’re setting off a series of chemical reactions” (How to Make Bread: A Beginner’s Guide)
It may seem technical at first, but if you can be a little patient both with yourself and your dough, bread is something that is easy to master and then expand upon.