YEAST BREADS Mrs. Halverson Things to Know about Leavening• Yeast breads use YEAST as a leavening agent. • Yeast needs warmth, food and moisture to grow. • Small amounts of sugar speeds the activity of yeast. (too much sugar will inhibit yeast activity) • Salt inhibits the speed of yeast activity. YEAST BREADS Temperature and yeast • 50 degrees- yeast begins to activate • 78-82 degrees- yeast produces the most gas • 120 degrees- yeast begins to die • 143 degrees- yeast is useless for baking. KNEADING DOUGH • Kneading dough develops gluten to give the dough shape and structure. • Gluten is a protein in flour. – You only want to stir/mix quick breads a little to form a small amount of gluten – You want to stir/mix (knead) yeast breads a lot to form a large amount of gluten. Kneading Dough- continued • You may knead bread by hand or with your dough hook on the electric mixer. • Kneading dough by hand: – – – – Fold Push Turn Repeat Click on the picture to show a video on how to knead. YEAST BREAD BAKING BASICS On a piece of paper in your binder/notebook, answer the following questions for review: 1. Why is it important for the water to be the correct temperature to mix yeast? 2. What do fats do in yeast breads? 3. Name 2 types of flour available for making bread? 4. What does kneading do for the bread? 5. How can you tell if you have kneaded bread long enough? 6. What purpose does sugar serve to yeast bread? 7. How do I know if a loaf of bread is done? YEAST BREAD BAKING BASICS ANSWERS 1. Why is it important for the water to be the correct temperature to mix yeast? - Yeast is a living organism and if the water is too hot it will kill the yeast and the dough will not rise. 2. What do fats do in yeast breads? - Fats make breads soft and tender. 3. Name 2 types of flour available for making bread? – Rye, soy, whole wheat, rice, all-purpose, bread flour. 4. What does kneading do for the bread? – It forms gluten. It makes the dough smooth and elastic. 5. How can you tell if you have kneaded bread long enough? - When an indentation in the center of the bread stays in place. It is smooth and elastic. 6. What purpose does sugar serve to yeast bread? - Sugar acts as food for the yeast. 7. How do I know if a loaf of bread is done? -When you knock on the loaf it sounds hollow.