My homemade bread always comes out dense and gummy

I've learned that PROOFING time is crucial from my failed loaves. What's the BEST way to get it right next time?

2 comments

2 Comments

Watch how bread dough rises in a warm spot, like how good coffee needs to sit before you brew it or a beef stew gets better the next day. I mean most stuff just needs its own time and we keep rushing it. My last loaf was a brick because I put it in the oven after an hour just because the recipe said so, but my kitchen was cold. Now I just wait until it looks puffy and soft, even if it takes longer. It's crazy how often the fix is just doing less and waiting more.

diana_grant1d ago

Recipes always act like your kitchen is on some perfect timer set by a science lab. Mine swings from arctic to sahara depending on the day. Following that "one hour" note is a sure way to get a doorstop. You learn to just side-eye the dough until it seems ready to fight back. Basically, the instructions are a lie and the bread is the truth.