Why baking bread with fresh yeast is a good choice

Do you like baking your own bread as much as I do? Such a delicious farmer’s bread, where you can make the bread dough yourself quickly and easily, tastes pretty delicious. I have put together the basic recipe and a few useful tips for baking bread for you here, so that nothing can go wrong!

Be sure to read why cooking and baking yourself has so many advantages , how you can best learn to cook and how you can prepare vegan finger food appetizers the fastest .

What you need to bake bread with fresh yeast

You need the following ingredients for the bread dough:

• 500 g wheat flour or wholemeal flour
• 7 g fresh yeast (or 2.5 g dry yeast)
• 8 grams of salt
• 300 ml lukewarm water
• some bread spice (optional)

What is fresh yeast and how is it used?

Fresh yeast is a natural fermentation agent made from yeast fungi. Very often it is used in the bakery industry to bake bread. Alternatively, it can also be used to make cakes and other baked goods. Of course you can also use it at home to bake your homemade bread.

The yeast is available in block form or as cubes. Before use, however, it should be dissolved in warm water.

Make sure the water isn’t too hot as this can kill the yeast.

How is fresh yeast made?

It is made roughly like this:

1. The yeast fungi are cultivated in large fermentation tanks. This is usually done in an aqueous solution made up of sugar, nutrients, and other ingredients.
2. The fungi multiply and form a kind of foam on the surface.
3. After a few days, the yeast is skimmed off the surface and pressed in large presses to remove excess water.

1. The yeast obtained in this way is then pressed into appropriate forms or cut into cubes and dried. So it will last longer.
2. Then it is packed in sacks or containers and delivered to the respective customers.

How is Fresh Yeast Used vs. Dry Yeast?

Fresh yeast and dry yeast are both agents used for fermentation. This remedy allows bread, cakes and other baked goods to rise and we can enjoy them at the end. However, there are some important differences:

Usage: Fresh yeast is usually sold in cubes and must be fully dissolved before use. Dry yeast, on the other hand, is produced in powder form and can therefore be stirred directly into the fresh dough. It therefore does not have to be dissolved beforehand.

Rising time: The rising time of fresh yeast is usually faster than that of dry yeast. This means the dough will be ready to go in the oven faster. Dry yeast, on the other hand, takes more time to rise because it needs to be “activated” before it starts to ferment.

Quantity: Fresh yeast and dry yeast both have different strengths. For the same amount of dough, a larger amount of dry yeast is used than fresh yeast. The exact ratio here depends on the type of yeast and your recipe.

Storage: Fresh yeast should be stored in the refrigerator and used within a few weeks. It does not keep as long as dry yeast. This has a longer shelf life and can also be stored at room temperature.

Which types of yeast are best for which types of bread?

Fresh yeast is best for fast-rising doughs like baguettes and brioche .

Dry yeast works well for slow-rising doughs like whole wheat and rye bread .

Sourdough yeast or baking malt yeast:

These are used to make acidic breads like sourdough . This yeast is a natural yeast culture mixture consisting of wild yeast and bacteria. Such a method has a longer fermentation process.

Baking malt yeast, on the other hand, is used to make breads such as wheat bread, rye bread, and mixed bread . This is a special yeast that is obtained through the natural fermentation of malt.

Tip: Always pay attention to the quantities in the recipe and to the use of the different types of yeast.

Preparations for the basic recipe for baking the bread

• Use the right flour (e.g. Type 550 for wheat bread)
• Let the yeast rise in lukewarm water, stirring until smooth, before stirring it into the batter.
• Let the dough rise, covered, in a warm place until it visibly expands.
• Shape the dough into the desired shape and let it rise again, covered.
• Now bake the bread in the preheated oven.
• Fresh yeast should be refrigerated and used within a few weeks.
• Always pay attention to the quantities in the recipe.

How do you prepare the baking tray for baking bread?

• Thoroughly clean the baking sheet
• Place the baking sheet lined with parchment paper
• Grease the baking sheet
• Make sure the baking sheet is in the oven and also preheated
• Turn the baking sheet halfway through the baking time
• Let the bread cool down on a wire rack after baking

Step-by-step instructions on how to bake bread

1. In a bowl stir in the flour and salt.
2. In a separate bowl, mix the yeast with the lukewarm water until smooth.
3. Then pour it all into the bowl with the flour and salt.
4. Add the remaining lukewarm water and knead everything into a smooth dough.
5. Cover and let the dough rise in a warm place for about 1 hour.
6. Then knead the dough well again until you have brought it into the desired shape.
7. Finally, let the dough rise again, covered, for about 30 minutes and then place in the preheated oven.

How long should the dough rise?

The dough should rise until it has significantly increased in size.

It is generally said that a time of approx. 1 hour at room temperature is sufficient. However, it can vary from recipe to recipe and from dough to dough. It’s important to watch the dough rise and let it rise until ready. That means it should have increased significantly in volume. So watch your dough a bit.

How long should the bread bake?

The baking time for bread varies depending on the size and shape, the ingredients used and the oven.

You can bake your bread at around 180-220°C for around 20-30 minutes. Be sure to watch your bread as it bakes. You can use a wooden skewer to check if it’s cooked through. If the dough sticks to the stick, it needs a little more.

Tips and tricks for the perfect bread

• Use high quality ingredients.
• Dissolve the yeast in lukewarm water beforehand.
• Knead the dough thoroughly and let it rise sufficiently.

• Use the right amount of yeast and adjust the baking time and temperature.
• Bake the bread in a preheated oven.
• Monitor the bread as it bakes
• Let it cool on a wire rack.

What is the best way to store fresh yeast?

Fresh yeast should be kept cool and dry. It’s best to do this in the fridge. You can also freeze it if you want to keep it longer. Frozen, it generally keeps yeast in the freezer for 3 to 6 months.

How do you avoid the bread becoming too dry?

Here are 5 tips to ensure your home-baked bread doesn’t get too dry:

1. Use the right amount of moisture in the dough.
2. Cover the dough as it rises to retain moisture.
3. Make sure the bread has cooled completely before placing it in a container.
4. Store your bread in a cool place and avoid exposing it to light and heat.
5. Use a bread slicer or a sharp knife and don’t cut your bread into strips that are too thin.

How do you get a crispy crust?

Have you always wondered how best to get a crispy bread crust like from a baker? I’ve tried many things and often failed, so here are my best tips for you:

1. Use a higher baking temperature (e.g. 180 degrees or higher)
2. Generate steam in the oven either by spraying in water or by placing a bowl of water in the oven while baking.
3. Brush the bread with water before baking
4. Use egg, milk, or butter as a spread
5. Use malt extract, which forms a caramelized crust when baked
6. Make sure there is sufficient air circulation in the oven.

Nothing can go wrong now, can it?

Conclusion and my final thoughts on baking bread

Baking bread can be an exciting and exciting experience. Especially if you want to try it yourself and surprise your family with fresh bread and rolls from the local oven on Sunday.

Actually, you can’t do much wrong if you use all my tips and tricks.

Use fresh and high-quality ingredients, pay attention to the correct quantities and adjust the baking time and temperature accordingly.

The baking tray should always be clean and the oven preheated.

And now I wish you lots of fun baking your own bread! Be sure to let me know how you liked it!

FAQ about baking bread

And finally, a few more questions that I am often asked about “baking bread yourself”:

Why is it worth baking the bread yourself?

• it is fresh and of very good quality
• you know exactly what’s in it
• you can customize it to your liking
• it is much cheaper than store-bought bread
• it’s great to make something yourself
• your family will be amazed!

How can you refine the homemade bread?

You can use the following spices:

• shabby clover.
• Thyme.
• Rosemary.
• Oregano.
• Cardamom.
• star anise.
• Cinammon.
• cloves.
• bread spice
• sourdough
• linseed
• oatmeal
• olive oil
• different cores

Which is better for baking bread – yeast or baking powder

The simplest yeast substitute is baking soda. A packet of baking powder replaces a packet of dry yeast or half a cube of yeast. This is sufficient for approx. 500 g flour (you can also use rye flour as an alternative). Baking powder is a good substitute for yeast, especially for light dough such as baguettes or rolls.

In addition, baking without yeast is much faster because there is no longer the usual rising time. However, you should work quickly so that the raising power of the baking powder can develop its full power in the oven and does not fizzle out beforehand.

Have fun baking bread!

Sichere dir jetzt dein GRATIS
Kochbuch

Tauche ein in Miss Bohnenkrauts “Kleine Reise” und erlebe ihre Klassiker.
​
Gesunde und leckere Rezepte auf vegetarisch und vegan zubereitet.

​

Sichere dir JETZT dieses kostenlose Kochbuch zum einfachen Nachkochen und Backen.

Download

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

Built with ConvertKit