How to Knead Bread

Kneading bread is a great stress reliever; still, there are certain rules to follow in the process.

If you're stressed or worried about something, a great answer (at least a partial answer!) is to make some bread. The whole process of watching the dough coming together, the physical actions of kneading and shaping the dough, and the delicious aromas that waft throughout your house while baking is very comforting.

To knead dough, first dust your work surface with all purpose or bread flour. Put a small mound of flour near the work surface; you'll use that to sprinkle over the dough as you knead to prevent sticking. Place the dough in the center of the work surface. Now gather the dough into a rough ball. Pull the top of the dough over the center, then push away with the heel of your hand. Rotate the dough a quarter turn and repeat this process. After five, eight, or ten minutes (depending on the recipe), the dough will become smooth, satiny, and elastic.

Don't skip this step, or try to shorten the kneading time. These actions are necessary to develop the gluten so the interior structure of the dough is fine and light, with lots of little holes to trap the carbon dioxide produced by the yeast as it ferments.

Enjoy the process; and bring your kids into the kitchen too! Kneading dough is like playing with clay, but you get to eat the results.