If you have never tried making your own bread, it really is worth giving it a go. It is extremely satisfying eating something you have made yourself and it can be a fun process too. Baking bread with a bread machine should make it a little easier, but there are still some fail safe tips you should follow to make sure your loaves turn out just right.
First of all, when it comes to ingredients, you can scrimp on the cost of white flour, but not on anything else. Whether you buy your white flour from the economy range of the supermarket or the local delicatessen, it will be roller-milled and the quality will be the same, so you might as well cut the cost and go economy range.
When it comes to wholewheat flour, however, cheaper brands often leave out the tasty parts such as wheat germ and bran, so it is a good idea to invest in wholewheat flour produced by smaller, traditional millers if possible.
Often you will find that bread machines come with recipes, so a good idea is to give these a go first. Once you have mastered the basics of making white or wholemeal bread, you can experiment by ringing the changes with seeds and nuts.
Baking bread by hand is a more drawn-out process but can be very rewarding and great fun. The trick is to mix the dough thoroughly and wait for around ten minutes until kneading. Once kneaded, let the dough rise by half, then shape and bake once it has risen by two thirds.
Follow these simple tips and you should soon end up with delicious loaves that smell and taste delicious. You can use your bread to make your favourite healthy sandwich, enjoy on its own with soup, or however you wish really. Happy baking!
