Last Updated on 20th July 2022 by
There are plenty of factors that go into creating the perfect homemade bread- the ingredients you use, the method for making the bread, and the temperature you cook the bread at. All of these determine how the bread will turn out, and the temperature may be more important than you think.
If the temperature is too high or too low, your bread may be overly soft or hard. It might be doughy in the center or too crunchy on the outside. What temp to bake bread if you want it to turn out well? I’ll discuss the perfect temperature to bake bread at and why you need to use a specific temperature range.
What Temperature to Bake Bread?
If you are looking for a temperature ideal for baking bread- a range that works no matter what kind of bread you are making- you should use a range between 350 degrees Fahrenheit and 475 degrees. That’s a pretty big range, but then again there are lot so different types of bread. Not every bread type should be baked at the same temperature.
Also, there is a range where bread can be cooked at different temperatures for different amounts of time. So, if you are using a lower temperature, you would need a longer baking time.
This range between 350 and 475 does two things for your bread. First of all, it gives it a nice brown color- not too dark but not so light that it looks undercooked. It also gives the bread its crusty texture, and that’s caused by what is known as the Maillard reaction. This contributes to browning as well and refers to a bond taking place between components in the bread.
If the heat isn’t high enough, these reactions won’t take place, and the bread won’t come out right.
Keep Heat Levels Consistent
It’s important to keep a consistent heat in the oven. If the heat level changes dramatically during the baking process, the bread can fall. It won’t puff up like it is supposed to, and there will be a crater int middle of it. This usually happens if you open the oven door for too long during baking.
Try to check the bread through the observation window of the oven rather than by opening the door. The temperature may also change dramatically if there is a power outage or the gas cuts off while the bread is baking.
It’s not a good idea to bake bread when you are having power fluctuations.
How Long to Bake Bread at 350?
Different baking temperature mean different baking times. So, if you are baking your bread at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, how long should it bake for? The baking time should be about 30-33 minutes. You can check the bread in two different ways to determine if it is cooked all the way through.
Try tapping the bread and see if it sounds hollow. If it does, then it has baked all the way.
Dense bread is usually not cooked long enough and hasn’t puffed up adequately yet. You can also check the bread by seeing if it looks golden brown or light brown on the outside. Some types of bread will be browner than others, but the bread should have darkened from the dough stage for sure.
The size of the bread makes a difference in how long it needs to cook as well, as smaller pieces will cook faster.
What Happens If You Bake Bread without Letting It Rise?
Bread with yeast in it is supposed to raise. That’s why you put the yeast in there. It takes time for the yeast to take effect and do its thing- usually 20-30 minutes.
So, what happens if you bake the bread too soon, before the yeast takes full effect? You end up with flat bread. It’s just as if you didn’t put any yeast or enough yeast in it.
How to Bake Frozen Bread Dough?
Don’t just throw frozen bread dough into the oven and bake it like you would room temperature or refrigerated dough. It needs to be treated specially.
Wrap the dough in parchment paper or with a towel and let it rise for 1 ½ hours. Then bake it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes for small strips and 30-33 minutes for full loaves.
This is just one method for how to bake frozen bread, and depending on what you want to do with it, you can bake it using a variety of methods.
What Temperature to Bake Bread in Convection Oven?
Convection ovens work a bit differently from regular ovens, and you will have to make some small adjustments to your bread recipe if you have a convection oven.
First of all, lower the temperature from what the recipe calls for- decreasing it by 25 degrees. Convection ovens are a bit hotter than traditional ovens, and you have to take that into account. Also decrease the cooking time by 10 minutes from the recipe.
These two small changes should be all you need to make your bead turn out great according to a regular bread recipe when using a convection oven.
You can check the bread to see if it is done cooking by using one of the methods I gave you already (appearance or by tapping), or you can use an instant read thermometer and make sure the bread has reached an internal temperature of 200 degrees.
How Long to Bake Bread in Air Fryer?
The air fryer can be used to bake bread as well, but your method will need to change a bit to accommodate it.
Once you avoided up your bread dough according to the recipe, you will need to put your dough into the air fryer basket and let it rise.
Allow the yeast to work to raise the bread for about 30 minutes- long enough for the bread to double in size. Then, heat the air fryer to 320 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 8-10 minutes. It’s the fastest way to cook bread, but you still need to give the bread time to raise.
I'm Pauline, a mother of four grown children, my passion for cooking stemmed from the joy i get cooking for my family. I love to try new dishes, especially when dining out but creating and sharing my own recipes is my favourite thing to do!
Leo
Saturday 30th of July 2022
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