When people hear that I make homemade bread, I sometimes get responses that suggest I’m performing rocket science. I promise you that I’m not! I’m here to encourage anyone that has failed in bread-making attempts in the past. It seems to be one of the most-feared foods to make at home, but really, it’s very easy once you’ve done it a few times.
I could never do that.
Yes, you can! There’s a first time for everything. I made my first batch of bread without anyone helping me. I only relied on the memory of watching my mom. If you want to learn directly from someone, make sure you do the work. Otherwise, it will be just as scary when you go home to my your first batch alone.
I don’t have the time.
It takes me 1 1/2 hours from start to finish to make 4 loaves of bread. They last 1 1/2 – 2 weeks if I freeze some of them. Only 15 minutes of that is hands-on time. I spend more time making dinner on an average day. If you have time to make dinner, you have time to make bread.
We would eat it all right away.
Homemade bread always tastes amazing fresh from the oven, but you won’t eat the whole loaf after you’ve been making it for a while. The novelty wears off even though the bread doesn’t taste any “less good”. I promise.
My bread never rises.
I have a couple of tips for that.
- Keep yeast in the freezer to make sure it’s fresh.
- Don’t use hot water, only warm.
- Make sure you knead the bread enough so it’s elastic.
There are a billion things you can find on Google to make sure you do it right, but the best way is to just take the plunge and make a successful batch one time. That’s all it takes!
I love homemade bread. Even the good stuff from the store just doesn’t compare, and you don’t get the amazing smell or the experience of eating it straight from the oven. If you’re not sure if you should make homemade bread, go for it! You won’t regret it.
Here are some additional tips for when you take the plunge. And here are my recipes! Though I don’t make bread as often as I used to, I’m always glad when I do.
