Make your own bread to stay sane, social, and satisfied

Photo by Nadya Spetnitskaya on Unsplash

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by Maryn Miles

Maybe you’re a bread-making connoisseur and know how to bake up a fresh batch on any given day, but chances are, you’ve been busy with life. Now that things have slowed down, here’s our list of reasons why making bread is the perfect stay-at-home activity. Make your own bread to stay sane, social, and satisfied. Keep reading for our favorite recipes!

1. Bread is typically made from simple, cheap ingredients, most of which stay good for extended periods of time.

Yeast stays good up to four months in the fridge and up to six months in the freezer. White flour will stay at optimal quality for about one year if kept at room temperature.

After it’s opened, you can maximize the shelf life of flour if you place the remaining flour in airtight containers or plastic freezer bags

2. Making bread keeps you busy.

Not only do you get the satisfaction of eating it when it’s done, but you may also find comfort in the acts of measuring, mixing, and kneading. Making bread can be a great family activity, leaving everyone feeling accomplished and excited about the delicious results.

3. Bread freezes well and can help your family stock up on your food supply.

When freezing bread, allow it to cool completely first. Wrap it tightly after cooling in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place it into a zippered freezer bag. If you are storing it in individual slices, place parchment paper in between each slice before placing it in a freezer bag. It can be stored in the freezer for three to six months without losing its flavor.

Tips for serving and storing bread:

• To keep your bread from going stale fast, don’t store it in the fridge.
• Don’t cut your bread until after it’s cooled. It will lose flavor and dry out faster if it’s cut while still warm.
• Thaw frozen bread in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes for the taste and texture of a freshly-baked loaf.
• Use a serrated knife to cut bread with a back and forth sawing motion to keep from flattening the loaf.

What’s the best bread for your particular stay-at-home situation?

Are you at home with the kids? Do you need a creative outlet? Are you on a restricted budget? Check out these different bread varieties to find one that suits your needs best.

Japanese Milk Bread 

This sweet, soft, white as a cloud bread is great for kids for a number of reasons. In this recipe, the dough is shaped into small sections, and these sections are placed side-by-side in one pan to form a larger loaf when baked. This makes this recipe best for involving multiple people in the kneading process. 

If you have kids home from school, this would be a great activity to get them out of their rooms or away from the TV for some valuable family time. This recipe also takes the least amount of time, which makes for a perfect afternoon activity.

Adults might want to handle the measuring process by spooning the ingredients into measuring cups and leveling it off. Accuracy is important for this type of bread.

Milk bread pairs nicely with jams, peanut butter, cream cheese, Nutella, and makes for the perfect PB&J. It also stores in the freezer for 1-2 months and is best stored in individual slices, perfect for sticking in the toaster oven for breakfast. 

INGREDIENTS

• 2 ¼-oz. envelopes dry yeast (about 4½ tsp.)
• 5⅓ cups bread flour
• 3 Tbsp. sugar
• 1 Tbsp. plus 2½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 Tbsp. Morton kosher salt
• 2 Tbsp. plus 1½ tsp. unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for the bowl

For directions, follow this link.

For a fancier step-by-step guide to shaping your milk bread, go here.

Japanese Milk Bread -Photo by Youjeen Cho on Unsplash

Flaky Bread

With this bread’s pita-like form and texture, it pairs nicely with not only sandwiches and various dips, such as hummus, but also with meals that can be stored in the freezer alongside such as soups and chilis. YUM!

Roll it out thin on an unfloured surface for best traction.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for surface
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more, room temperature, for brushing (about 10 total)
• Flaky sea salt (such as Maldon)
• Olive oil (for parchment)

For directions, follow this link.

Flakey Bread- Photo by Raychan on Unsplash

Focaccia Bread 

If you are stuck working from home and have found yourself needing a creative outlet, this focaccia bread is for you. While it calls for an easy step recipe, it also needs to be checked on every now and then, making this the perfect bread for the stay-at-home worker who is having a hard time realizing when they need to take a break.

If you’re feeling a little experimental, you can choose to put onion, rosemary, garlic, or other herbs on top. Focaccia is perfect for snacking, sandwich making, dipping in oil or balsamic, and pairing with pasta. 

Focaccia bread is moist but airy and is surrounded by a crunchy top and bottom crust. This is due to the amount of olive oil used in the pan and on top of the dough before baking. A standard 18×13 half sheet pan is recommended for proper ratios. Make sure the pan is exceptionally clean to prevent sticking.

INGREDIENTS

• 6¼ cups bread flour (30 oz. or 850g)
• 2¼ tsp. active dry yeast (from one ¼-oz. packet)
• Pinch of sugar
• 2 Tbsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 Tbsp. Morton kosher salt
• 5 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus more for greasing and drizzling
• Flaky sea salt

For directions, follow this link.

Focaccia bread- Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash

Challah Bread 

While this recipe calls for a bit more ingredients, it can also be stored up to a month in the freezer and is the perfect bread for any time of day with any type of meal. Basically, this is your go-to bread.

While the recipe calls for the dough to be covered in sesame seeds before baking, it really can be covered in whatever you have available (poppy seeds, chia seeds, chopped up garlic, or just all-purpose flour).

This recipe makes two loaves and is listed as a part of Bon Appetite’s Best, which pretty much guarantees you’ll fall in love.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 ¼-ounce envelopes active dry yeast (about 4½ teaspoons)
• 2 teaspoons plus ¾ cup sugar
• 2 large eggs, beaten to blend
• 4¾ teaspoons kosher salt
• ½ cup shortening, melted, plus more for greasing
• 7 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 2 large egg yolks
• Sesame seeds (for serving)

Challah Bread- Photo by Monika Grabkowska on Unsplash

For directions, follow this link.

No-Knead Artisan Bread

Made from yeast, water, flour, and salt, this rustic, golden-brown bread is filling, delicious, and easy on the wallet with only four ingredients.

If you’d like to start off with something easy, this is most likely the bread for you. You can work your way up to the hardest bread to perfect, sourdough, but first try with this four-ingredient, no-knead version.

No special equipment is required besides a dutch oven for cooking. Just mix up these easy ingredients and let them rise for up to fourteen hours (overnight is best.)

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups bread flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoons table salt
• 1/4 teaspoon instant or other active dry yeast
• 1 1/3 cups cool water (55 to 65 degrees F)
• Special equipment:
  • A 4 1/2- to 5 1/2-quart heavy pot

For directions, follow this link.

No-Knead Artisan Bread- Photo by Stephen Walker on Unsplash