Before baking, the bread dough must first be rested until it expands in size. Generally, this process takes a very long time, and is not ideal for those of you who have very limited time. Fortunately, there are a few tips you can use to speed up the dough-rising process, such as putting the dough in the microwave or covering it with a damp towel. Armed with the extra heat and humidity, surely the process of baking bread can be accelerated without risking damage to its quality!
Step
Method 1 of 4: Using a Wet Towel
Step 1. Preheat the oven to the temperature you will use to bake the bread
Generally, bread is baked at 176-260°C. Read the recipe for the required temperature rules!
Step 2. Wet a towel or kitchen paper with warm water
The entire towel should be very damp, but not so wet that the water drips in all directions. If the towels are too wet, try wringing them out over the sink.
Step 3. Cover the dough with a wet towel
Make sure the entire surface of the dough is covered well, yes! Then, trim the towel so that the four ends hang naturally on the sides of the bowl or baking sheet that lined the dough. Supposedly, the dampness of the towel will help speed up the dough-building process.
If the dough is large enough, you can use two towels to cover it
Step 4. Place the dough near, not in, the preheated oven
For example, you can place it on an empty kitchen table. Supposedly, the heat emanating from the oven will speed up the development process.
Step 5. Allow the dough to rise until it has doubled in size
Check the condition of the dough after 30 minutes to make sure it is ready to bake. If the dough is not the ideal size, cover it again with a damp towel and check the condition after 10-15 minutes.
Method 2 of 4: Using the Microwave
Step 1. Fill a heatproof bowl with 240 ml of water
Make sure the bowl is not too big to fit in the microwave.
Step 2. Heat a bowl of water on high in the microwave for two minutes
After two minutes, open the microwave door and move the bowl so that there is enough room to place the bowl with the dough. If the temperature of the bowl is too hot, don't forget to wear heat-resistant gloves to transfer it.
Step 3. Place the dough in a separate bowl
Make sure the bowl is not too big to fit in the microwave. To use this method, you don't need to use a special heat-resistant bowl because the microwave won't turn on while the dough is resting.
Step 4. Put the bowl of dough in the microwave, then close the door tightly
Place the bowl of dough in the microwave and place it side by side with the bowl of water. Supposedly, the combination of boiling water and the heat of the microwave will create a warm, moist environment for the dough to rise more quickly. Do not turn on the microwave at this stage!
Step 5. Rest the dough for 30-45 minutes
After 30 minutes, check the condition of the dough to make sure it is ready to bake. In particular, the dough is ready to bake when it has doubled in size. If you haven't reached that point yet, let the dough rest in the microwave for 15 minutes.
Step 6. Reheat the water used if the dough has not risen to its maximum
If after 45 minutes the dough hasn't doubled in size, try removing it from the microwave. Then, reheat the bowl of water on high for two minutes, and return the bowl of dough once the water has heated up. Rest the dough again for 10-15 minutes until it expands completely.
Method 3 of 4: Using the Oven
Step 1. Preheat the oven to the lowest setting for two minutes
If necessary, install a timer so you don't miss the duration. While waiting for the oven to heat up, bring the water to a boil on the stove. After two minutes have passed, turn off the oven.
Step 2. Fill a medium or large heat-resistant glass bowl with boiling water
Pour water until it is about 2.5 to 5 cm below the surface of the bowl.
Step 3. Put the bowl of boiling water in the oven and close the door
Leave the bowl in the oven while the dough is working. Supposedly, the warm temperature that comes from the oven and a bowl of water will create the ideal environment for the dough to rise properly.
Step 4. Place the dough in a heatproof baking dish and put it in the oven
Close the oven door tightly.
Step 5. Leave the dough in the oven until it has doubled in size
After 15 minutes, check the condition of the dough to make sure it is ready to bake. If the dough has not doubled in size, rest it again and do a second check after 15 minutes.
Method 4 of 4: Using Instant Yeast
Step 1. Prepare a pack of instant yeast
Generally, instant yeast has smaller grains than dry yeast. As a result, the activation process in the dough will take place more quickly. You can easily find instant yeast at the nearest supermarket, and are generally labeled with the words "instant yeast" or "quick-rise yeast."
Step 2. Mix a pack of instant yeast with all dry ingredients
Instant yeast does not need to be dissolved in water like ordinary dry yeast. Therefore, you can immediately mix the instant yeast in the amount listed in the recipe with flour and other dry ingredients.
Step 3. Skip the first dough resting process, and immediately shape the dough after kneading
If the recipe calls for you to rest the dough twice, simply apply the second process as the dough only needs to rest once if made with instant yeast. As a result, the cake-making process can be cut in half, right?
Step 4. Let the dough rise before baking
Place the bowl with the dough in a warm, damp place for it to rise faster. Remember, dough containing only water and flour will rise faster than dough containing dairy products, eggs, salt, and fat.
Tips
- A warm and humid environment will speed up the fermentation process that occurs in the dough. As a result, the dough will rise faster.
- Prepare a small bowl. Put the yeast and a little sugar in a bowl, then pour a little warm (not hot) water over it. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Once the sugar has dissolved, let the yeast sit for at least 15 minutes. Pour the yeast solution into the flour, and add a little water if necessary. Then, knead the dough until the texture is soft and blends perfectly. If you apply the steps above, the dough development process should take place more quickly.
