From instant yeast and sourdough starter to stand mixers and nonstick loaf pans, here's what you need to start baking bread. (Amazon)
Baking bread has quickly become a favorite quarantine pastime. It's relaxing, rewarding and delicious. And with the right tools and a little practice, making a perfect homemade loaf is actually pretty easy.
Whether you're just getting started or looking to perfect your technique, we've got you covered. From instant yeast and sourdough starter to loaf pans and stand mixers, here are the items you need to get kneading. Enjoy!
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Many bread recipes will call for a packet of instant yeast. But because everyone is baking right now, those packets are largely sold out in grocery stores. Fortunately, you can buy a 16-ounce/1-pound bag of Fleischmann's instant yeast that should last for many, many loaves to come. According to Fleischmann, one instant yeast packet is the equivalent of 2 and 1/4 teaspoons. That means this 1-pound bag has more than 42 packets worth of instant yeast.
While plenty of bread recipes can work with all-purpose flour, many call for bread flour specifically. According to Bob's Red Mill, bread flour has a higher amount of gluten, which produces a lighter and chewier bread. This 5-pound bag of artisan bread flour is unbleached, enriched and ideal for loaves, baguettes, rolls, buns and beyond.
There are plenty of gluten-free bread recipes, but you'll obviously need a wheat-free flour to make them. While almond flour or buckwheat flour will work (the buckwheat name is deceptive; it's actually not related to wheat), we prefer King Arthur's GF flour. It's fortified, contains rice flour and is easy to substitute into any of your favorite baking recipes.
If you're measuring dry ingredients with tools designed only for wet measurements, your results won't be as accurate. This 12-piece measuring cup and spoon set works well for dry and wet ingredients. The measuring cups and spoons are engraved with both milliliter and ounce measurements for quick reference, and they stack neatly when not in use.
If you don't have a neighbor or local bakery to lend you some sourdough starter, this kit is the next best thing. It contains a living sourdough culture that needs to be fed immediately upon delivery. Just follow the simple instructions, and with regular feeding, your sourdough starter can be sustained indefinitely.
Bake and brown your bread evenly and beautifully in these 9-by-5-inch nonstick loaf pans. The pans' heavy-duty construction resists warping, heats evenly and is designed to last. The pans are oven-safe up to 450 degrees and come backed by Farberware's quality assurance guarantee.
Some of the simplest, most foolproof bread recipes — such as this one from Tasty — call for baking in a Dutch oven. This economical 6-quart model from Lodge offers unparalleled heat retention and even heating. Use it for baking bread in the oven or for cooking on the stovetop.
Bake better, more evenly browned bread with the help of these thin baking liners. Each precut sheet measures 12 by 16 inches and can easily fold or be trimmed into the size of your pan. Best of all, you can reuse each sheet up to three times per side.
Cut and scrape dough on a variety of surfaces with this handy tool. It has stainless steel and plastic scrapers for cutting dough, along with a plastic bowl scraper that allows you to thoroughly scoop ingredients out of bowls. All three pieces are dishwasher-safe and nest together for easy storage.
Mix and knead ingredients with ease using this 10-speed KitchenAid stand mixer. It comes with multiple accessories, including a power-knead spiral dough hook. It's a must-have for any baker, and its power hub also fits optional attachments such as food grinders and pasta makers.
In this comprehensive cookbook, America's Test Kitchen shows bakers of all skill levels how to make foolproof breads, rolls, flatbreads and more. Each hands-on recipe is presented with a tutorial of six to 16 step-by-step photos. "Bread Illustrated" is organized by level of difficulty, so it's easy to distinguish between a simple loaf and more complicated artisan-style breads.
This versatile bread machine does all the work so you don't have to. It has 17 customized settings choose from (quick bread, whole wheat, gluten-free, etc.) and makes 1-, 1.5- and 2.2-pound loaves to the doneness of your choice. It automatically keeps finished loaves warm for one hour, and it has a 15-hour delay timer that allows you to put your ingredients in ahead of time.
