It has lots of funny stories and great recipes. I'm disappointed though because I've been trying to make the basic bread recipe, and it does not rise. So, after four wasted loaves of bread, I'm asking for help. Please. Do you have any tips for using yeast? I've recently bought this
I thought it might work better than the packet from the grocery store. I'm afraid to try it though. Please give me your advice...
Did you try proofing the yeast?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thekitchn.com/baking-lessons-how-to-proof-ye-94555
I did this the second time, and it even foamed. Still the bread did not rise...
DeleteI use hot tap water with the yeast in a bowl with sugar-stir and let it bubble. The water cannot be too hot. Good luck :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! I need it. i think MAYBE I'll try again this week.
DeleteSometimes it's the recipe - I have some I can work with and some I don't seem to be able to. I've been making our wheat bread since August and most of the time it's pretty good. (Except when raising it the second time and I've forgotten to grease the waxed paper covering it and so it falls when I remove the paper to put it in the oven.)
ReplyDeleteWondering when it falls flat? Does it bubble at the beginning? Does it not raise when it's in loaf form? Or does it fall?
I do use Red Star (or whatever) yeast from the grocery store. As long as it's within the date, I've not had any issues. I store it in the fridge. It's probably not a bad idea to check your water temp (with a meat or candy thermometer). A few degrees too warm can kill the yeast as the previous commenter mentioned.
My recipe calls for the flour being added to the yeast/water/honey mixture and sitting for 30 minutes. (I count this as the first raising as it normally fills the mixing bowl by that point.) So then I just knead in the rest of the flour and shape the loves for it to raise again.
I bump the heat up in the house (we normally keep it on the cool side) and boil water while it raises the second time. The boiling water seems to really help.
This is my recipe: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/simple-whole-wheat-bread/detail.aspx
I think the recipe might be part of it, but I was wondering if I should make it warmer. We keep our house cool too! It just never rises. If it doesn't work this time, I'm trying your recipe.
Deletewe just make bread in a bread machine, so not sure if it's different than by hand, but what i've found is when i add honey it rises more. when i don't, it's more flat. and my recipe didn't call for it, i just added it. you have experiment a bit to figure out how much w/ how much.. usually just about 1/4 cup.
ReplyDeletelove fresh homemade bread. makes the house smell wonderful!
oh, i just looked at your recipe and it does call for honey, so you're probably already using it. hmm.. not sure. maybe you could try adding more?
ReplyDeleteand a friend once told me yeast has to say sealed well and in the fridge. i'm sure you already know this.. just throwing some other stuff out there. ;) i know it's so frustrating to make something and put the time into it, and not have it turn out how you like.
hope you get it figured out~
happy valentines week!! :)
Hope you've got it figured out by now, but if not definitely try somewhere warmer. We have to turn the oven on sometimes (cold, old house) and set the dough on top to get it to rise.
ReplyDelete