How It's Made : Bread Making

Making fresh bread at home requires just four basic ingredients: flour, water, yeast, and salt. By mixing these together to form a dough, allowing it to rise, shaping it, and baking it at high heat, you can easily create a delicious, crusty loaf without fancy equipment. 

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Mix the Dough
In your large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, yeast, and salt. Pour in the warm water and mix using a spatula or your hands until a wet, shaggy dough forms and all the flour is hydrated. It should look sticky and sloppy. 

2. The First Rise (Bulk Fermentation)
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a damp towel. Leave it at room temperature for 2 to 3 hours until it doubles in size, gets wobbly like jelly, and develops a few bubbles on top. 

3. Shape the Loaf
Lightly flour your work surface and scrape the dough out. Gently fold the edges of the dough into the center a few times to create a rough, round shape. Flip the dough over so the smooth side is up and place it on a piece of parchment paper. Let it rest for 30 to 45 minutes while you preheat your oven. 

4. Preheat the Oven & Pot
Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). If using a Dutch oven, place the heavy pot inside the oven while it preheats so it gets piping hot. 

5. Bake
Remove the hot pot from the oven, carefully lift your dough (using the parchment paper) and drop it into the pot. Cover the pot with the lid and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake for another 12 to 15 minutes, or until the crust is deep golden brown and sounds hollow when you tap the bottom. 

6. Cool
Let the bread cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing into it. Slicing it while it's piping hot can give it a gummy texture! .