Bread dough

Bread dough is a mixture of flour, water, and often yeast and other ingredients, used for the baking of bread. It is the physical and chemical changes in the dough, particularly the fermentation of sugars by yeast, that give bread its unique texture, flavor, and aroma.

Ingredients

The basic ingredients of bread dough are flour, water, and yeast. Other ingredients such as salt, sugar, fats, and milk may also be added to enhance the flavor, texture, and color of the bread.

Flour

Flour is the main ingredient in bread dough. It provides the proteins, starch, and other components necessary for the structure and texture of the bread. The type of flour used can greatly affect the final product. For example, wheat flour is commonly used for its high protein content, which forms gluten when mixed with water.

Water

Water is used to hydrate the flour, allowing the proteins to form gluten and the starch to gelatinize. The amount of water used can affect the texture of the bread, with more water leading to a softer, more open crumb.

Yeast

Yeast is a type of fungus that ferments the sugars in the dough, producing carbon dioxide gas and alcohol. This causes the dough to rise and gives bread its characteristic flavor and aroma.

Process

The process of making bread dough involves several steps, including mixing, kneading, fermentation, shaping, and proofing.

Mixing

Mixing is the first step in making bread dough. The ingredients are combined until a rough dough is formed.

Kneading

Kneading is the process of working the dough to develop the gluten network. This gives the bread its structure and allows it to hold the gas produced during fermentation.

Fermentation

During fermentation, the yeast consumes the sugars in the dough and produces carbon dioxide gas and alcohol. This causes the dough to rise and develops the flavor of the bread.

Shaping

After fermentation, the dough is shaped into the desired form. This can be a simple loaf, or more complex shapes for specialty breads.

Proofing

Proofing is the final rise of the dough before baking. During this stage, the yeast continues to ferment, producing more gas and causing the dough to expand.

Types of Bread Dough

There are many types of bread dough, including white bread dough, whole wheat bread dough, rye bread dough, and sourdough.

See Also

• Baking
• Yeast
• Flour
• Water
• Bread