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 : liquid ingredients

—SECOND : dry ingredients

—LAST : yeast

Check the Doughball

This is a secret well known to people who make bread the old-fashioned way. While hand kneading the mixture, they adjust the consistency of the dough by adding a little flour or a little water until the doughball is just right.

Although the breadmaker kneads the dough for you, this secret is still true. Here’s what you should do:

If the Doughball Is Too Wet

During the second kneading cycle, check the consistency of the doughball. If the doughball appears sticky or wet, like pancake batter, sprinkle in flour, a Tbsp. at a time, until the doughball appears smooth, round and dry, and circles nicely in the pan. Sprinkle a little more flour if needed.

If the Doughball Is Too Dry

If the doughball appears flaky, or you hear your breadmaker begin to make “knocking” sounds, the dough ball is too dry. To correct this problem, simply sprinkle in water a tsp. at a time, until the doughball appears smooth, round and dry, and circles nicely in the pan.

Be careful not to add too much water.