How to Make Perfect White Bread - A Step-by-Step Guide

There's nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked bread filling your home. The warmth, the aroma, and the taste of a perfectly baked loaf of bread is a simple pleasure that brings comfort to countless homes around the world. And when it comes to a classic, versatile loaf of bread, nothing beats a perfect white bread. Whether you're using it for sandwiches, toast, or just enjoying a slice on its own, a homemade loaf of white bread can't be beaten. And with the right recipe and techniques, ...

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 tablespoons white sugar
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 tablespoon shortening
  • 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
  • ¼ cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
  • 6 cups bread flour
  • cooking spray

Information

  • Prep Time: 30 mins
  • Cook Time: 40 mins
  • Additional Time: 2 hrs 35 mins
  • Total Time: 3 hrs 45 mins
  • Servings: 30
  • Yield: 2 9x5-inch loaves

  • Heat milk in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until it bubbles. Remove from heat and stir in sugar, salt, and shortening. Cool to lukewarm.
  • While milk mixture is cooling, dissolve yeast in warm water and let stand until creamy, about 5 minutes.
  • Combine cooled milk mixture with yeast mixture in a large mixing bowl. Stir in 2 cups flour, then add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, to make a moderately stiff dough.
  • Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 8 to 10 minutes. Place dough in a lightly greased bowl and turn to coat. Cover the bowl with a damp towel and let dough rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour 20 minutes.
  • Lightly grease two 9x5-inch loaf pans.
  • Punch down dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Shape into 2 balls, cover, and let rest for 10 minutes. Shape dough into 2 loaves and place into the prepared pans; let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  • Bake loaves in the preheated oven until the tops are golden and loaves sound hollow when tapped on the bottom, about 35 minutes.
  • Nutrition

    16 cal.

    • Total Fat: 1g
    • Saturated Fat: 0g
    • Cholesterol: 1mg
    • Sodium: 162mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 2g
    • Total Sugars: 2g
    • Protein: 1g
    • Calcium: 19mg
    • Potassium: 29mg