bread

[lindyloo]

is it possible to make bread without yeast, which will still rise, and yet tastes like a traditional loaf? i have tried soda bread- we didn't really like it at all, and i make american cornbread which i love, but i am just wondering whether it is possible to make a bread using egg or eggwhite and selfraising flour, rather than baking soda, or using yeast? i dont want to use yeast, as i have never yet got the dough to rise. and as i can't afford heat in the house yet, there is definately not a warm spot to put it in!

[rustylady]

I think if you want traditional bread you will probably have to use yeast. You could always construct a "warm place" for the bread to rise although it really doesn't have to be that warm. Just takes longer at lower temperatures. I'm thinking about maybe a hotwaterbottle under a towel to stand the bowl on and covering the bowl with another towel. Or even better if you have one a coolbox, which can also be used as a warmbox because of the insulation.

[zazen999]

Believe it or not - yeast will still rise in a fridge.

[lindyloo]

i have tried over the years, probably a dozen times, to make bread, and have never got it to rise!!! its a bit like growing foxglove- it just does not seem that i am compatible with achieving the end result!

[HotStuff]

is it possible to make bread without yeast, which will still rise, and yet tastes like a traditional loaf? i have tried soda bread- we didn't really like it at all, and i make american cornbread which i love, but i am just wondering whether it is possible to make a bread using egg or eggwhite and selfraising flour, rather than baking soda, or using yeast? i dont want to use yeast, as i have never yet got the dough to rise. and as i can't afford heat in the house yet, there is definately not a warm spot to put it in!

Do you have a microwave? If so you can use that to get your bread to rise. Just put a mug of water in the microwave and get it boiling, make sure it doesn't boil dry. Then once the microwave is switched off quickly open the door, put your dough in then close the door. The warm moist atmosphere enclosed within the microwave will help the dough to rise in about 20 minutes

[MaureenHall]

You could make sourdough bread, you make your own starter culture from flour and water and just "feed" it every day. There's some good recipes and instructions on the web

[Headfry]

Yes, it will indeed 'rise' in the fridge!
lindyloo - what type of yeast do you use please?

[Flummery]

If you mix up a 'starter' of warm water, a little sugar, and a sprinkle of flour and leave it somewhere warm it will ferment eventually - a day or so - as it makes use of wild yeasts in the atmosphere. I have tried this as I wanted to do some experimental cooking for an archaeology project. You will get a frothy mix which you can dilute with more warm water, add to your flour and again, leave to ferment and rise.

I can report though, that they resulting bread is heavy and not particularly pleasantly flavoured. Our bread yeasts have been cultured over many years to give a sweet clean flavour to the bread. Wild yeasts can be a bit bitter and nasty.

I'd use yeast!

[Hilary B]

If you want bread to rise, you need a raising agent, yeast or baking powder is really the main option.
As long as the yeast is 'live' the only reason for it not to work is an error in the recipe or method, and yes, cold only slows it down.
Maybe a bread machine is the answer?