How bread is made - Overview - Federation of Bakers (2024)

Table of Contents
Flour Yeast Salt Water FAQs

Flour

Wheat is grown in many parts of the world. However, flour made from `hard` wheats such as those produced in North America is higher in protein/gluten. Hard and soft wheats in milling terms are equivalent to strong and weak flours in baking. For more information on gluten please refer to our Factsheet on Gluten.

Wheat flour is the key ingredient in most breads. Flour quality is particularly important in breadmaking as the quality of the flour will have a significant impact on the finished product.

When flour is moistened and stirred, beaten or kneaded, gluten develops to give dough `stretch`. The elastic framework of gluten holds the gas produced by the fermentation action of yeast.

In a year of good harvest a bread grist may consist of 80% or more of home grown wheat. This trend is likely to continue with advances in wheat breeding and technology. However, home grown wheat is not always strong enough to be used in all varieties of bread and baked products and there is no likelihood at the moment of this country being able to do without some imported wheat for breadmaking. Currently about 800,000 – 1,000,000 tonnes of wheat is imported for breadmaking, mostly from North America.

Yeast

Yeast requires moisture, food and warmth for growth. When these requirements are satisfied, the yeast grows. Its function in breadmaking is to:

  • produce carbon dioxide gas to enable the dough to rise
  • expand the dough’s cellular network to form bread crumb
  • give bread its characteristic flavor and aroma.

Salt

Salt is an essential ingredient in bread. It is used in very small amounts to give bread flavour. It also helps to strengthen the gluten and help fermentation to produce bread of good volume and texture.

Water

Water is used to produce the dough. It is important that the correct quantity of water is used when making bread because it affects the dispersal of the other ingredients.

For further information on how bread is made, UK legislation, production methods and how a plant bakery works please download our Consumer Factsheet No. 7 How bread is made.

How bread is made - Overview - Federation of Bakers (2024)

FAQs

What is the overview of bread making? ›

Breadmaking is a dynamic process during which continuous physicochemical, microbiological, and biochemical changes take place, motivated by the mechanical and thermal inputs and the activity of the yeast and lactic acid bacteria together with the endogenous enzymes in wheat (Rosell, 2010).

What is the overview of the product bread? ›

Bread is the product of baking a mixture of flour, water, salt, yeast and other ingredients. The basic process involves mixing of ingredients until the flour is converted into a stiff paste or dough, followed by baking the dough into a loaf.

How is bread manufactured step by step? ›

It consists of a series of steps including mixing, fermentation, makeup, proofing, baking, cooling, slicing and packaging. Due to their critical role, these processes must be carefully operated to meet pre-set conditions and specifications.

What are the 7 stages of bread making? ›

The twelve stages of bread making
  • Gathering everything that you need to make the loaf.
  • Measuring the ingredients.
  • Mixing the dough to the right consistency.
  • Resting and stretching & folding or kneading the dough.
  • First rise/ fermentation/ proof.
  • Deflating (gently) & dividing (if you are making more than one loaf)
  • Shaping.

How was the bread made? ›

Bread is usually made from a wheat-flour dough that is cultured with yeast, allowed to rise, and baked in an oven. Carbon dioxide and ethanol vapors produced during yeast fermentation result in bread's air pockets.

What is the conclusion of bread making? ›

In conclusion, once the bread has cooled to a temperature that can be handled, it is ready for eating. In this situation, eating is considered the last phase of bread making. During dining, bread may be provided with any beverage or main cuisine of one's choosing.

How do you explain bread? ›

bread, baked food product made of flour or meal that is moistened, kneaded, and sometimes fermented. A major food since prehistoric times, it has been made in various forms using a variety of ingredients and methods throughout the world.

How is bread made step by step with pictures? ›

  1. Step 1: Ingredients. 1 cup warm water. ...
  2. Step 2: Feeding the Yeast. First things first, you need to make the yeast happy! ...
  3. Step 3: Add the Regular Flour. ...
  4. Step 4: Kneading. ...
  5. Step 5: First Rise. ...
  6. Step 6: Punch It Down. ...
  7. Step 7: Second Rise + Preheating. ...
  8. Step 8: Baking + Cooling.

How is bread made scientifically? ›

In bread making (or special yeasted cakes), the yeast organisms expel carbon dioxide as they feed off of sugars. As the dough rises and proofs, carbon dioxide is formed; this is why the dough volume increases. The carbon dioxide expands and moves as the bread dough warms and bakes in the oven. The bread rises and sets.

What is the overview of the baking process? ›

Baking is the final step in making yeast-leavened (bread, buns, rolls, crackers) and chemically-leavened products (cakes, cookies). It's a thermal process that uses an oven, which transfers heat to the dough pieces via: Conduction through heated surfaces. Convection through hot air.

How is bread made 4 steps? ›

Bread in four basic steps
  1. Mixing. The most important one is, of course, the understanding of the steps in the bread-making process together with knowledge of the functions of the ingredients. ...
  2. Fermentation. The second important step in bread-making is the process called fermentation. ...
  3. Proofing. ...
  4. Baking.

What are the 10 steps of bread production? ›

The 12 Steps of Bread Baking:
  • Scaling Ingredients.
  • Mixing.
  • Bulk Fermentation (first rise)
  • Folding (sometimes called punching)
  • Dividing.
  • Pre-shaping or Rounding.
  • Bench Proofing or Resting.
  • Makeup and Panning.

How do bakeries bake bread now? ›

Automated machines can now mix doughs, knead them, shape them, and bake them in a fraction of the time it would take to do it by hand. This has allowed bakeries to produce more bread in less time and with less labour, resulting in greater efficiency and cost savings.

Which is the most important stage of the bread making process? ›

The bulk fermentation for any dough is a crucial step in the bread baking process, even if it isn't the most exciting one. We call it a bulk fermentation because we are letting our dough—the entire batch—ferment as one mass, before dividing and shaping it into loaves.

What is the simple description of bread? ›

bread, baked food product made of flour or meal that is moistened, kneaded, and sometimes fermented. A major food since prehistoric times, it has been made in various forms using a variety of ingredients and methods throughout the world.

What is the theory behind bread making? ›

When starch granules are attacked by enzymes present in flour, they release the sugars that yeast feeds on. Starch also reinforces gluten and absorbs water during baking, helping the gluten to contain the pockets of gas produced by the yeast.

What is the most important thing about making bread? ›

12 tips for making perfect bread
  • Use the right yeast. ...
  • Store your yeast properly. ...
  • Treat salt with care. ...
  • Take your time. ...
  • Try different flours. ...
  • Consider vitamin C. ...
  • Practice makes perfect. ...
  • Don't prove for too long.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Frankie Dare

Last Updated:

Views: 5972

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (53 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Frankie Dare

Birthday: 2000-01-27

Address: Suite 313 45115 Caridad Freeway, Port Barabaraville, MS 66713

Phone: +3769542039359

Job: Sales Manager

Hobby: Baton twirling, Stand-up comedy, Leather crafting, Rugby, tabletop games, Jigsaw puzzles, Air sports

Introduction: My name is Frankie Dare, I am a funny, beautiful, proud, fair, pleasant, cheerful, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.