what is knead?

Question

when cooking biscuits and breads and such things and it says to knead something what does that mean exactally. i am new to cooking from scratch and i am not too sure about that one .

Answer 1

Definition: Bread dough is kneaded to distribute the yeast and develop gluten for an even texture. To knead, pick up the far edge of the dough and fold over the bottom edge. Press down with the heels of your hands, pushing the dough away from you. Turn the dough one quarter turn and repeat the process. When properly kneaded, bread dough will be smooth and satiny, stretchy and no longer sticky

Answer 2

Knead is the process of taking dough, placing it on a counter and folding it over and pressing it down, rotating the dough 90 degrees and repeating for 10 to 15 minutes. Kind of like mixing by hand.

Kneading helps the water activate the gluten in the flour. Gluten helps form the structure in breads.

However, for biscuits you don't want to knead the dough too much. Too much kneading will make the biscuit tough.

Answer 3

To mix and work into a uniform mass, as by folding, pressing, and stretching with the hands: kneading dough.
To make or shape by or as if by folding, pressing, and stretching with the hands.
To squeeze, press, or roll with the hands, as in massaging: kneading a painful calf muscle.

Answer 4

Basically you work the dough with your hands to get it evenly mixed - best to put some oil on your hands first so the dough doesn't stick. (If you have a cat think of when they work there paws back and forth on a spot (or you)). Had a friend once who would save up her anger and take it out on the bread dough - great bread!!

Answer 5

uh... make bread flat... then fold. repeat a lot.