Check out my previous newsletters below. If you haven't already, sign up for my newsletter!
Should I sift the flour when making bread?
I grew up always sifting flour before measuring when baking anything. Is it necessary when baking bread?
(Disclaimer: This discussion applies only to bread, not pastries, cakes, or cookies)
Two reasons you don't have to sift flour when making bread:
- According to Bon Appetit: "Modern techniques have improved significantly...most commercial flour is refined and clump-free, meaning there's no real need to sift it."
- Weighing is the new "measuring" method for bread (for my American readers). If you want to be more than a one-trick pony when it comes to baking bread, a digital scale is essential.
🤔 It just occurred to me that bread machines are often sold with measuring cups. What a mistake! If I sold those machines, I would include a free digital scale. I bet there wouldn't be near as many bread machines in garage sales. (I would also remove the "bake" button, but that's a topic for another day.)
One caveat: If you happen to purchase a bag of flour with lumps, go ahead and sift it (place a big sifter over a big bowl and stir with a whisk until all the flour goes into the bowl.) You still need to weigh it when you make bread, but it will mix easier when added to your bread machine.
Find links to my favorite digital scales in my Amazon Store. Unfortunately, I can't make it link through email, so type Amazon Store SaladinaJar into the search box.
See this post if you have more questions about measuring flour for bread,​
If you want to practice weighing flour, try my recipe for Easy Enough Bread Machine Pretzel Dough for Buns or Rolls.
| Click to see the recipe |
What readers say about Bread Machine Pretzel Buns:
Saying good-bye to my rusty old sifter,
Paula
p.s Thank you for sharing this email and recipe with your favorite bread-baking friends.
Salad in a Jar
Check out my previous newsletters below. If you haven't already, sign up for my newsletter!
WELCOME BREAD MACHINES YOGURT SALAD IN A JAR RECIPE INDEX One thing I've learned about holiday meals is that people remember the favorites. You can add something new every year, but don't be surprised if someone asks, "Did you make the baked beans?" or "Where are the deviled eggs?" If you're planning a Fourth of July cookout, here are a couple of family traditions along with two more recipes that are always welcome at a summer gathering. Deviled Eggs Without Mustard (Sweet & Simple!) These...
About Bread Machines Yogurt Salad-in-a-Jar Recipes Father's Day got me thinking about all the recipes my husband has taste-tested over the years. He's sampled more bread, yogurt, casseroles, cookies, and kitchen experiments than he probably ever imagined when we got married. While he rarely suggests what I should make for dinner, there are a few recipes he's always happy to see on the table. Today I'm sharing four of his favorites. As it turns out, many of them are reader favorites, too....
Does the flour you use to make bread really make that much difference? It can! I was reminded of this during COVID, when we all baked with whatever flour we could find. Bread flour was especially hard to come by, and my favorite brands were replaced by empty shelves or a cheaper store brand. Even though I followed my recipes the same way, the dough didn’t always behave the same. Some batches needed more water. Some weren’t as fresh. Others didn’t have the chewiness I wanted. There are several...