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How do I fit breadmaking into my busy schedule?

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Paul Hollywood Paul Hollywood | 10:00 UK time, Monday, 30 August 2010

Few people have the time to devote to making bread from scratch everyday, but I'm sure you'll agree that a fresh loaf of homemade bread made by your own hand takes some beating. So how can you make good-quality wholesome bread when you're pressed for time?

I would say that the minimum time required to make a decent loaf of bread is three hours in total, but in actual fact there is very little time of hard labour - just 12 minutes! It's a bit like making a casserole or stew, you can't get round the fact that there a number of different steps that need to be completed, but essentially you can slow down the breadmaking process so that you do a little bit of work, leave the dough overnight and then go back to it.

Using a breadmaker may speed up the process - you can use the breadmaker to knead your dough for example, and then remove it to cook in the oven. However, all you really need to prepare a loaf of bread is a large bowl and a pair of hands.

When it comes to cooking bread professionally, bakers will often use their own - this is what I tend to do - but if you're short on time, use powdered instant yeast.

Instant yeast can also be called easy-blend or fast-action and can be bought in 7g sachets. This fast-working yeast is powdered and can be thrown straight into the flour.

If you want to slow down the breadmaking process to give you more time, try adding less yeast or putting the dough in the fridge. Mix the flour, salt, butter (or oil), cold water and just 5g of yeast together and place back in a bowl to leave in the fridge to rise overnight, ideally for about seven hours. In the morning, shape the dough into a ball and place on a lined baking tray to rise for the final time - this will take about 3-4 hours in total.

There's no need to make time in your busy schedule to eat this bread - it'll be gone in no time at all. For a full step-by-step traditional recipe try my homemade bread.

paul_hollywood_bread.jpg
Do you have any suggestions about how you can make time to make bread? What are your top tips for homemade bread?

Breadmaking expert Paul Hollywood appears on Ö÷²¥´óÐã Two's Great British Bake Off, part of the Get Baking campaign. Get all the recipes from The Great British Bake Off.

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    Thank you for the cob recipe. It really looks tasty.

    My tip for speeding up breadmaking is to start the process the night before, and place your quickly mixed dough in the fridge.
    You can shape and cook your bread first thing in the morning, shaving off resting time.
    Even from chilled.

    The fastest loaf I've made Paul, was a 3mins loaf.
    3 mins mixing, and into the oven - which I posted on the Beeb messageboard.
    It's a Telegraph recipe, for a decent enough spelt bread.

    I make it with sourdough starter and it works a treat.

  • Comment number 2.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 3.

    I usually do my baking at the weekends... usually I make up the dough using yeast or sourdough if I have the mother handy, knead it and put it to prove just before making lunch and dinner... by the time the meal is running on the hob, it is time to knock the dough back in the tins or trays and bake it in the oven! I know it does not sound very scientific, but it works for me! I freeze bread quite a lot--maybe I bake an extra loaf or half dozen rolls and then stick them in the freezer. That way, I always have a little glut! :-)
    My fastest loaf... well, Irish soda bread; it does not need proving so it is just the time of mixing the flour and baking soda, adding the cream of tartar dissolved in water and mixing well, then 30 second kneading and in the tin! :-D

  • Comment number 4.

    I imagine it takes not time at all, as you say!

    However, I have had no luck at all with bread making! I'm good at pastry and cakes and biscuits - I'd be a whizz at the Bake Off prog, until the bread, this week. I might give your recipe a go. The last time I made bread, it was with a seven year old. The fact that it took so long and had stages made it perfect as an activity - weighing mixing, rising and again .. she loved it and it made the time pass for her. However, the result was terrible!

    I think if I were more sure of succeeding I would be more keen to put in what I imagine is minimal effort - when you know how!!!

  • Comment number 5.

    Blog breadmaking.

    Please give Gill or Paul the breadmaking blog, the above is an insult to what our messageborders have done so much better over the years.

  • Comment number 6.

    I've made a daily loaf for over 30 years usually using yeast. I'm in the group that would mix the night before and put then aside in the fridge overnight. Shaping it the following morning and baking it so we have fresh bread to make the bait boxes with for school and work.

    At the same time I pop a few frozen raw scones in so we have fresh scones and a few slices from a cookie dough roll makes lovely fresh cookies for the day to.

    So many people seem to think they have to set aside a whole afternoon or day to bake simple things like bread, cookies/bisuits and scones this is so wrong, it is so simple to be done daily in the 30/40 minutes before breakfast.

  • Comment number 7.

    Regarding comment #5: for those that aren't familiar with it, the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Food messageboard is a wonderful resource and worth checking out for any general food advice - including tips on breadmaking - by many of our expert regulars.

    This week chef Paul Hollywood will be answering your queries through the messageboard, but there are many regular messageboarders who are always happy to help with any baking queries at any time.

    /dna/mbfood/NF2670471

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