Making Whole Wheat Bread - The Whole Process

Making whole wheat bread requires special procedures and it is important to know about it. Homemade whole wheat bread has a distinct taste and texture, not to mention, all the nutrients that will keep you slim and fit. Some people use only pure whole wheat flour - but still, they do not achieve the essential firmness. It's possible to get a pretty tough bread if you decide to follow your own rules. Below here you will find tips that were proven to work by experts.

The Basic Factors

To make the best 100% whole wheat bread, you need 3 things. First, always use adequately high protein flour, or alternatively, add some vital wheat gluten to the bread dough. Secondly, avoid putting flour in for a long time before it is needed. Third, kneading the dough has to be consistent and done non-stop. You will find that using a food processor helps you with the kneading process, since you get to save more time and effort. Do not hesitate to use a mixer or even your hands - it will also help you to get the job done.

Whole wheat flour is heavier compared to white flour, so you need to develop good strong gluten to make a soft crumb and pleasing texture. More gluten is available when you have higher protein content. Avoid adding too much flour or you risk creating loaves that are hard as a brick. Kneading continuously leads to gluten forming a consistent and strong matrix.

Now For The Recipe

For making one fullsize loaf, you are going to need 3.5 cups of 100% whole wheat flour, 1 1/4 teaspoons of salt, 2 tablespoons of vital wheat gluten, 1 package of dry yeast, 2 to 3 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon of oil, warm water and 1 tablespoon of liquid lecithin. When using food processors, it is always essential to add ice water. Later, when you master the procedure, you can start experimenting by adding extra ingredients, e.g. nuts or seeds.

When baked inside an 8.5 x 4.5 inch pan, these ingredients are enough to make a loaf weigh about 1 1/4 pounds. This pan is better for baking than one made of metal or glass. Metal is perfect for baking as it results in a fantastic crust on the outside and the bread bakes evenly in it. This pan also cleans up very easily.

Do You Understand The Process?

Wanting to make 100% whole wheat bread, you can several processes that create a crusty and soft texture outcome. It does not matter if you use a food processor or your hands, the process is always the same. There are always four processes: mixing, kneading, rising and baking.

Using Bread Machines

Another way how to make bread is using bread machines. They do everything in the correct order and help with adding the right amounts for each ingredient that you need to use. The bread machine can all 4 processes for you. That is great when you have a dough with white flour. It is not as suitable for the dough made of 100% whole wheat flour. Whole wheat bread needs to be prepared with enough rising and kneading time. However, do check the capabilities of bread machines, as they have improved massively and can help so much.

To read about some great bread maker overviews and deals, click on either of these links: Zojirushi Bread Machine and Panasonic Bread Maker

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