West Bend L5141 manual Measuring Ingredients The Key To Successful Bread Making

SALT has several functions in making bread. It inhibits the yeast growth while strengthening the gluten structure to make the dough more elastic, plus it adds flavor. Use ordinary table salt to your bread maker. Using too little or eliminating the salt will cause the dough to over-rise. Using too much can prevent the dough from rising as high as it should. “Light” salt can be used as a substitute for ordinary table salt, providing it contains both potassium chloride and sodium. Use the same amount as recommended for table salt. When adding salt to pan, add to one corner to keep it away from yeast, especially when using time delay as the salt can retard its growth.

YEAST is a living organism, which, through fermentation, feeds on carbohydrates in flour and sugar to produce carbon dioxide gas that makes the bread rise. Active dry, fast rising or bread machine yeast can be used in your bread maker. Use only the amount stated in the recipes. Using a little more can cause the dough to over-rise and bake into the top of bread maker. Fast rising yeast and bread machine yeast are virtually the same and interchangeable with one another and must be used at the one-hoursetting for best results.

DO NOT USE COMPRESSED CAKE YEAST IN YOUR BREAD MAKER. RECIPES IN THIS BOOK WERE TESTED USING ONLY ACTIVE DRY, FAST RISING AND BREAD MACHINE YEAST.

Keep yeast stored in the refrigerator. You may find it handy to purchase yeast in glass jars so you can measure the exact amount you need without having to waste any. If using yeast packed in a ¼-ounce foil envelope, it is best to open a fresh envelope every time you bake. If you do save the unused amount from the open envelope, store it in a dry, airtight container in the refrigerator. Date the container and use promptly. Do not mix old and new yeast in a recipe. A ¼-ounce foil envelope of yeast contains 2¼ teaspoons.

ALWAYS MAKE SURE YEAST IS FRESH AND HAS NOT EXPIRED THE “USE BY” DATE PRINTED ON THE JAR OR ENVELOPE.

VITAL WHEAT GLUTEN is the gluten protein, which has been rinsed from the wheat flour and then dried. Vital gluten will increase the protein content in flour to produce a higher loaf of bread with lighter texture. About the only time you may wish to consider adding vital gluten to recipes is for 100% whole wheat bread or recipes containing a high percentage of whole wheat or other whole grain flours or cereals. As a guideline, add one (1) teaspoon vital gluten per cup of flour used in the recipe. Check the condition of the dough during kneading as you may need to add a little water as the vital gluten will absorb liquid. Vital gluten can be obtained at most health food stores. Do not use gluten flour, as this is not as effective as vital gluten as it contains less protein.

Or, you can use a large egg as a substitute for vital gluten as it too will increase the protein content. If using an egg, add it to the liquid in bottom of pan and reduce the recommended amount of liquid in recipe by two (2) ounces (¼ cup). Again, check the condition of the dough during the knead cycle for any minor adjustment that may be needed.

SPECIAL NOTE ON CINNAMON AND GARLIC: Adding too much cinnamon or garlic can affect the texture and size of the loaf obtained. Cinnamon can break down the structure of the dough, affecting height and texture, whereas, garlic can inhibit the yeast activity. Use only the amount of cinnamon and garlic recommended in the recipe, don’t be generous.

MEASURING INGREDIENTS: THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL BREAD MAKING

THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP IN USING YOUR BREAD MAKER IS TO MEASURE THE INGREDIENTS PRECISELY AND ACCURATELY. YOU MAY NEED TO CHANGE YOUR MEASURING HABITS SOME, BUT THE REWARDS FOR DOING SO WILL BE GREAT – WONDERFUL LOAVES OF BREAD YOU WILL BE PROUD OF AND THAT EVERYONE WILL ENJOY.

Follow these VERY IMPORTANT tips when measuring ingredients:

READ through the recipe and organize the ingredients you will need in the order they are added to the bread pan. Many bread disasters occur because an ingredient was left out or added twice.

USE: standard kitchen measuring cups and spoons and follow the steps below:

1.ALWAYS use glass or plastic “SEE-THROUGH” liquid measuring cups to measure liquids. Place cup on flat surface and measure at “EYE-LEVEL,”

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