Homemade Bread: the Easiest Recipe for the Italian Artisan Bread to Start off Real Bread Week (2024)

FAQs

What makes a bread an artisan bread? ›

Artisan breads are characterized by their lean formulation (i.e. low sugar and fat level), little to no use of dough conditioners (except for enzymes used for dough strengthening and crumb softening), and high or low hydration levels (depending on shape and spread desired by the baker).

Too Much Flour

Even if you select the correct flour, if you overdo it your bread will come out heavy and dense. The addition of too excessive flour in the dough is a common error, particularly for those who are new and don't know how it is what bread dough ought to look like.

Artisan Bread Only Uses Natural Ingredients

Some claim that artisan bread is made with only four ingredients of flour, salt, water, and yeast. One bakery says that the type of flour that is used is what makes a bread artisan verses flour that is used in all other bread.

The main differences between a loaf of artisan bread and regularly manufactured bread are the ingredients and methods used to create the bread. Artisan bread uses cleaner, less processed ingredients and is often handmade, making each loaf unique.

Artisan bread is thought to be a healthier option than store-bought bread. While there haven't been clinical studies to clearly define the differences, artisan bread is made from wholesome fresh ingredients whereas store-bought bread contains processed ingredients and preservatives to stretch the shelf life.

The spongy texture and moist flavor that oil creates can be a boon to certain recipes. Not to mention oil is cheaper and easier to work with. Butter will always provide superior flavor and that melt-in-your-mouth texture. In many recipes, combining the two gives the best of both worlds.

There's something magical about the bread you get at your local bakeries - they're always sooo soft and fluffy. Many of these breads, especially packaged ones, are made with a ton of chemical additives such as calcium propionate, amylase, and chlorine dioxide which help keep them soft, light, and fluffy for days.

All it takes is a small amount of dough enhancer per loaf to create a much lighter and fluffier result. Using a dough enhancer like Vital Wheat Gluten works to improve the texture and elasticity of the dough and elongate the strands of gluten. Doing so allows more room for the gas in the dough to develop and rise.

Long Fermentation Process: Italian bread is known for its long fermentation process, which can take several hours or even days. This slow rise allows the dough to develop complex flavors, improve texture, and enhance the overall quality of the bread.

While bread flour is the best option, it can sometimes be used if you don't have bread flour. “Check the protein content,” advises Chef Jürgen, since it can vary from brand to brand, and an all-purpose flour that contains protein on the higher end of the range, 12 to 13 percent, will produce a better outcome.

Will adding more yeast make bread fluffier? ›

Use a good-quality bread flour that has a high protein content, as this will give your dough the structure it needs to rise and become light and fluffy. Make sure to use the right amount of yeast for your dough. Too much yeast will cause the dough to rise too quickly, resulting in a denser texture.

Many people fear it and choose to stay away from it when they're on a diet. Nonetheless, artisan bread (as opposed to the store-bought kind) contains valuable nutrients to keep your body working properly.

Check the Serving Size

Bigger bakery‑style and artisan breads often have one slice per serving, and can contain upwards of 22 grams of carbs per slice. While you don't need to avoid these larger loaves, you may want to use one piece instead of two.

Artisan bread is handcrafted in small batches using simple, wholesome ingredients such as flour, water, yeast (Yeast is active or not?), and salt. True artisan bread takes a long time to make and is never mass-produced. Some examples of artisan bread include ciabatta, brioche, and focaccia.

Sourdough is a type of artisan bread that doesn't use commercial baker's yeast to rise. Instead of baker's yeast, sourdough rises with the help of “sourdough starter”.

An artisan is someone who makes an item by hand and is usually an expert in her or his specific trade. Artisan products encompass all types of goods, from clothing to home décor to tools.