Why doesn't my bread rise right?

Question

I have tried many, many times to make yeast bread. I even gave up for years Ihaven't tried it because it never works. I try following the directions. This time I even bought a thermometer to make sure the water was the right temp. Scalded the milk and let cool to luke warm like it said. Thought I kneaded it long enough but still it doesn't rise. Any advice?

Answer 1

It is a little hard to tell what the trouble is from your description. Breadmaking is a fine art. It once took me year to get a recipie perfected the way I wanted it. It is very satisfying to get the first loaf. Everytime you make bread it is a little different. Simple ingredients, and complicated procedure to get beautiful tasting bread.

It is basically a chemistry project. Tempurature and yeast are the two most important aspects. In your case it could be that the yeast is not active, or temp is too high.

I would try some experiments with your yeast. Can you get it to activate and bubble?

You can rise bread in the cold, so do not use anything "warm" because too warm will kill it.

1. First question. Is the yeast active? Put a teaspoon full in some cool not too warm water and add a little sugar. Does it start to bubble? Keep working at this until you get yeast that activates.

2. Try making basic bread with no milk, just AP flour, yeast, water, salt, and oil. (It doesn't have to be bread flour, and it doesn't require sugar). Whole wheat flour can be difficult so just start with AP flour. Artisan handmade loaves are made with long slow rises and AP flour. Just make some experimental loaves. Test how long it takes for them to rise, then knead and let them rise again. They can rise in the fridge.

3. Bread can raise in the fridge, so it doesn't require any heat to rise. Longer, cooler rise makes better tasting bread.

There are illustrated bread making books you might want to try.

The things that will kill your bread while you are making it are too high heat because it will kill the yeast. Expecting it to rise too fast. Let it rise overnight. Just make sure your yeast is fresh.
Sugar and B vitamins can be added to feed your yeast to get it activated.

Answer 2

If you are sure you are using the proper temp. for the yeast, then you may be letting it rise in a place that is either too cool or too hot. Be sure you are not letting it rise in a plastic bowl. You need a bowl that will retain warmth to keep the dough at a temp warm enough to rise. Turn the oven on just long enough to reach a warm degree for rising. When the oven feels slightly warm when you open it , place the bread there to rise.

Answer 3

I think you are attempting to build a doctrine by reading too much into what bread does in the oven. In that time and culture, Jews ate unleavened bread. At the last supper, which was the Passover, Jesus and the disciples would have eaten unleavened bread. That doesn't mean you cannot eat leavened bread if you want, as the type of bread is entirely not important. You miss the picture of the Eucharist if that is what you focus on. "This passage is properly translated" Ah ah ah! Unless you are a Koine Greek scholar or can cite a reputable Greek scholar for this translation, don't use it.

Answer 4

1. Check how old the Yeast is.
2. Check the room for how warm or cold you are trying to have it rise in.
3. Maybe you over kneaded it.
4. Wrong flour. (don't laugh it has happened, using self rising and trying to make yeast bread with it).
5. Alton Brown on foodnetwork.com has a really good recipe for bread and understanding on how to make it.

Answer 5

Sometimes bread will not rise if you have not greased the surface of your dough ball. It needs surface elasticity to expand.

I would guess maybe your yeast is old. Try proofing it in a little warm sugar water first. If it gets fizzy, it's active. If it doesn't- throw it out.

Answer 6

Are you setting it in a warm enough place to rise? Try setting it right next to your stove and see if that works.

Answer 7

not enough yeast or u didnt mix the yeast in water before hand... it should fizz

Answer 8

do you add a bit of baking powder? cuase that is used to make bake goods rise!