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THE VITAL INGREDIENTS
FOR BREAD MAKING
Flour is the most important ingredient used
for bread making. It provides food for the
yeast and gives structure to the loaf. When
mixed with liquid, the protein in the flour
starts to form gluten. Gluten is a network of
elastic strands that interlock to trap the gases
produced by yeast. This process increases as
the dough continues kneading and provides
the structure required to produce the weight
and shape of the baked bread.
White wheat flour sold as baker’s, bread
or plain flour may be used. Plain flour is
most readily available, however, best results
are obtained with flour at least 11% protein
content. For this reason, the recipes in this
book requiring bread flour have been made
using flour with 11% protein content. This
is normally indicated on the packaging. Do
not sift the flour or use self-raising flour for
bread making unless indicated in the recipe.
NOTE
When using a low-protein, plain, stone
ground or wholemeal flour the quality
of the bread can be improved by
adding gluten flour.
BAKER’S OR BREAD FLOUR
There are several brands of bread or
bakers flour available nationally at larger
supermarkets.. It is a high protein, white
bread flour, with 11% protein.
NOTE
New Zealand only: ‘Elfin High Grade
White Flour’ or ‘Champion High Grade
Flour’. These are high protein, white
bread flours containing 12% protein.
Wholemeal wheat flour contains the bran,
germ and flour of the wheat grain. Although
breads baked with this type of flour will
be higher in fibre, the loaf may be heavier
in texture. Lighter textured bread can be
achieved by replacing 1 cup of wholemeal
flour with white bread flour.
Rye flour, popular for bread making, is low
in protein so it is essential to combine rye
flour with bread flour to make the bread rise
successfully. Rye flour is traditionally used
to make the heavy, dense Pumpernickel and
Black Breads.
Gluten flour is made by extracting the
gluten portion from the wheat grain. Adding
gluten flour can improve the structure and
quality of bread when using low-protein,
plain, stone ground and whole meal flour.
Bread mixes contain flour, sugar, milk, salt,
oil and other ingredients such as bread
improver. Usually only the addition of water
and yeast is required.
Bread mix brands such as ‘Laucke’, ‘Kitchen
Collection’, ‘Defiance’, and ‘Lowan’ are
available nationally from
major supermarkets.
For recipe information on these and
other brands of bread mix contact the
manufacturer listed on the package.
NOTE
New Zealand only: Bread mix brands
such as ‘Elfin’ are available.
Bread improvers are available nationally in
supermarkets and health food stores. The
ingredients in a bread improver are usually
a food acid such as ascorbic acid (Vitamin
C) and other enzymes (amylases) extracted
from wheat flours. Adding a bread improver
will help strengthen the dough resulting
in a loaf that is higher in volume, softer in
texture, more stable and has improved shelf
life qualities. A simple bread improver can
be a crushed unflavoured vitamin C tablet
added to the dry ingredients.