Basic Bread Loaf
Servings 4
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups 420g all-purpose or bread flour
- 1 cup + 2 tbsp 260ml warm water
- 2 tsp instant or active dry yeast
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp sugar optional
Instructions
- Activate the yeast (if using active dry)
- Warm water + sugar + yeast → let foam 5–10 minutes.
- (Instant yeast goes straight into the flour instead.)
- Mix the dough
- Flour + salt → add yeast mixture → stir until shaggy.
- Knead
- Knead 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- First rise
- Put in a bowl, cover, rise 1–1.5 hours until doubled.
- Shape
- Press out air gently, shape into a loaf.
- Second rise
- 30–45 minutes until puffy.
- Bake
- 375°F (190°C)
- 30–35 minutes, until golden and hollow-sounding.
- Cool
- Let rest 30 minutes before cutting.
