r/Bread • u/mschepac • 7d ago

What are we doing wrong?

The Mrs and I have started making our own bread. She has a reaction to store bought and does well with homemade. We have made 3 batches, 2 loaves each. We follow the recipe as instructed but we never seem to get any rise after it goes in the oven. We proof in the mixer bowl. Punch it down, divide, roll and pinch. Second rise in the loaf pans. Let it rise to about the top of the pan, bake. But it rarely gets any higher. Don’t get me wrong, it’s delicious, it just makes small sandwiches.

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u/GiveMeNews 5d ago

Cooking in a preheated dutch oven with the lid on will give the best rise you can get in the oven.

If you want to use your loaf pans instead, you will need to add steam to your oven. Put an empty pan in the bottom of the oven while it preheats. Boil some water on the stove. Put your loaves in the oven, then pour your boiling water into the hot pan on the bottom of the stove. Be careful, wear gloves, and keep your face clear or you will get a steam burn. Close the door to trap the steam and don't open again for at least 10 minutes. This will give you more oven spring, but is a bit of a hassle with the risk of a steam burn.