What Makes Your House a Home?

There is nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked artisan bread to make a house truly feel like a home. If you think that baking is difficult, you are not alone. However, the truth of the matter is that it doesn’t have to be that way.

The process of baking and eating bread is one of love, passion and fun. For centuries families and friends have been breaking bread as a symbol of connection and peace within their homes. There is nothing more central to a home than freshly baked bread.

One of our greatest joys is to share our knowledge with Australians of all ages. Follow our simple tips and tricks, you’ll be baking up a storm in no time.

Choose Your Ingredients Wisely

Bread is made up of three primary ingredients: flour, water and salt. With so few ingredients, it is more important than ever that those ingredients be of the highest quality available, particularly the flour. We recommend strong flour, high-protein flour or baker’s flour. If you can find freshly milled flour, that’s even better! When you are measuring the flour for your bread, it is better to measure your flour by weight rather than using measuring cups. This will ensure more consistent results so that your bread turns out great each and every time.

Use the Right Equipment

Two of the greatest bread-baking tools in existence are your hands! However, you may not always wish to mix and knead your bread dough by hand. In this case, a high-quality stand mixer can be invaluable to your cause. When mixing, always use the low speed setting on the mixer, and use the spiral or hook attachment. This will give you bread that is light and fluffy.

Employ Proper Baking Techniques

To create a beautiful look and help your bread to rise properly, slash the top before you put it into the oven. Make sure that your oven is fully hot before inserting the bread, and only open the door when absolutely necessary. You don’t want all of that heat to escape before the bread goes in! Once the bread has finished baking, resist the temptation to slice into it right away. As hard as it may be to restrain yourself, wait until the bread has cooled before cutting into it. Then, enjoy!

We were thrilled to be featured in Bupa Life Insurance’s article on ‘How to Make Your House a Home ’. Check it out for more great ideas and advice on making your home feel more homey!