FAQs

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

I’ve enjoyed answering reader questions on our blog since 2007.  Click on any of the questions below– these are the ones that seem to be on a lot of bakers’ minds.  If you’re having a problem with one of the recipes, breeze through these FAQs first. If you can’t find an answer there, click on any “Comments” field adjoining a “post” here on the website (doesn’t have to be related to the content underneath). Tell me which book you’re working from, and which recipe and page number, and ask your question. I’ll answer, right under your question (or maybe a few below), within a day or so. Please understand that I can’t write back directly to you–there’ve been tens of thousands of questions here on the site, and I want other readers to benefit from the conversation. 

And please understand that my publisher would disown me if I put all our full-detail recipes here on the website or in the comment responses. This site is mainly a way of reaching out to readers, and supporting them as they work on recipes that appear in the published books.

If the list of FAQs below doesn’t get you the answer you need, try the Search Bar. On the Home Page, it’s right over the picture of the bread. In narrower displays, it sometimes appears right underneath the orange BreadIn5 logo. Type in the bread style, ingredient, or technique that you’re interested in, and the search engine will show you all the similar posts I’ve ever done on it, with recipes and answers to many questions.    –Jeff

  1. BreadIn5.com is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, BreadIn5 LLC earns an affiliate commission.
  2. Comments policies: I posted a comment to this site but it hasn’t appeared. What happened? Can I put up links to other sites?
  3. Contest and Giveaway Rules
  4. Convection oven: Any adjustment needed?
  5. Dense or gummy crumb: What am I doing wrong?
  6. Flour varieties: Do I need to adjust the liquids when I use different kinds of white flour?
  7. Freezing the dough: Can I do it?
  8. Fresh-ground grains: can I use them with this method?
  9. Gluten-Free Frequently Asked Questions (GF FAQs)
  10. Gray color on my dough: Is there something wrong? Is it mold?
  11. High-altitude baking: How do I adjust the recipes for high-altitude?
  12. Incorporating dried fruit, nuts, or herbs into stored dough: How do I do it?
  13. Larger loaves/multiple loaves: What adjustments are needed?
  14. Left the dough on the counter overnight! Can I still use it?
  15. The scoop-and-sweep method for measuring flour by volume: How it was done when testing these recipes
  16. Missing instructions and missing recipes: Some of the web-based recipes don’t have everything I need to make the bread, and others are missing from the website altogether
  17. Nutrition content: How can I calculate it?
  18. Photographs: Can I post pictures to this website?
  19. Privacy Policy
  20. Refrigerator rise trick: The formed loaves or rolls rise overnight and are ready for the oven the next day
  21. Rising: My shaped loaves don’t seem to rise much before it’s time for the oven.  What am I doing wrong?
  22. Salt: Can I decrease the amount of salt in the recipes?  How do I adjust for different kinds of salt?
  23. Sourdough starter: Can I use it with this method?
  24. Steam alternatives: How do I create a steam environment for a great crust when my oven doesn’t trap steam well?
  25. Stone broke! What did I do wrong?
  26. Storing bread: What’s the best way to do it?
  27. Traditional recipes: How can they be converted to the ABin5 method?
  28. Underbaked! My loaf didn’t bake through to the center.  What am I doing wrong?
  29. Web or other uses: Can I use your recipes on my own website, in my class, or in a publication?
  30. Weighing ingredients instead of using cup measures: How do you do it?
  31. Whole grain flours and vital wheat gluten: How do you use them?
  32. Whole grain flours and doughs without vital wheat gluten: How do those work?
  33. Yeast: Can it be decreased in the recipes?
  34. Health questions posted here over the years

Note: BreadIn5.com is reader supported. When you buy through links on the site, BreadIn5 LLC earns commissions.

3,920 thoughts to “FAQs”

  1. Zoe mentioned a post for baking challah in a crock pot. I can’t find it. Can you help me with directions? Thank you.

    Reply

      1. Thank you, Jeff! Happy Holidays, and HUGS to you both. Happy 10 years anniversary. You guys changed my life!!!

  2. I follow the recipe to the letter and my dough initially rises nicely, I cut off a piece, do the cloaking and put it on my paddle, where upon it flattens out and I get a flat oval shape dough and subsequently a flatter loaf, not the nice round shapes one see’s in pictures, What am I doing wrong?

    Reply

      1. The book is “Artisan Bread in 5 minutes a day “, following the recipe on Page 26 The Master Recipe (Artisan Free-Form Loaf. I tried again same problem after cloaking I put the dough on a pizza paddle it didn’t keep its shape and flattened out to about 1 inch thick .

      2. Three possible answers:
        1. Your flour measurement may be off. Weights are the most accurate, but if using volume (cup-measures) be sure you’re using the scoop-and-sweep method like we tested with.

        2. May not be “gluten-cloaking” adequately.

        3. You may be using a flour with less water-absorbing protein than what we tested with (which was Gold Medal All-Purpose). If the dough’s too wet, it’ll spread sideways. Just decrease the water a bit if this is the likeliest.

        See videos at

        Gluten-cloaking/shaping with Rye Dough from ABin5, wet at 14 days: https://artisanbreadinfive.com/2010/03/08/new-video-shaping-the-ball-from-a-very-wet-dough
        • Gluten-cloaking/shaping with whole-grain dough: https://artisanbreadinfive.com/2010/02/16/new-video-how-to-shape-a-loaf-using-whole-grain-dough
        • The Scoop-And-Sweep Technique: https://artisanbreadinfive.com/2010/04/28/how-we-measure-our-flour-using-the-scoop-and-sweep-method

  3. I am trying to make the sourdough starter you mentioned and it separates after stirring. I am on the 6th day and not much in the way of bubble activity, and it seems to be very liquid. Is this normal?

    Reply

    1. Separating is no big deal, but “not much” bubbling is a problem. Is your water highly chlorinated?

      Throw away half, replenish and see if you can boost the bubbling.

      Reply

      1. I ended up starting over on the sourdough starter and I think I have a batch per your instructions on your website, however, you mention chapter 11 in the book about more tips for using the starter. I have both books and I can’t find chapter 11 anywhere.

  4. I have been baking this bread for a couple of years and loved it so much so I bought everyone of my friends the book. I have since moved to Florida ( I lived in upstate new York ) and have not made a decent loaf yet. My bread comes out of the oven not as brown as it used to but also has a crust that is extremely hard. Can you please help?

    Reply

    1. Hi Ann,

      3 things come to mind:

      1. Are you using the same flour?
      2. Is your new oven gas, instead of electric?
      3. Is the water particularly hard (does it leave a film of mineral on your cooking pots)?

      Let me know and we can try to figure this out.

      Thanks, Zoë

      Reply

  5. Out of the lovely The New Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day book – which recipe would you direct me to that will make a loaf with an open texture and and a bit of a crunchy feel. I have made several different ones but my husband fusses that the feel is dense. Any suggestions?

    Reply

    1. Hi Karen,

      The more white flour you use the more open the crumb will be. The trick may be to use the master recipe in the first 24 hours and let it rest a bit longer than normal. If your kitchen is on the cooler side it may need additional time to rest before baking.

      Thanks, Zoë

      Reply

  6. First batch and I missed the instruction about mixing vital wheat gluten in with the flour. I dropped it into water….is this batch ruined?

    Reply

  7. Can I substitute sugar for honey in brioche or challah? If so what would the measurement be? I’m using the new artisan bread in 5 minutes a day.

    Reply

  8. Hi! I’ve been watching your videos and i’ve made some nice loaf breads using your recipe! Yesterday though, after mixing the ingredients and after letting it sit overnight on the counter (it kinda rose but unlike what i made before where dough rises to double or more) when i picked up a handful to gluten cloak, i noticed that there was liquid at the bottom of the container and the smell of alcohol (fermentation smell) was so strong…. its more like a batter than a dough consistency. Can i add more flour and yeast?

    Reply

    1. Hi Olive,

      Which dough are you using? Had the dough been refrigerated at all or you just let it sit at room temperature the whole time?

      Thanks, Zoë

      Reply

  9. Greetings,

    My name is John, and I have been utilizing your recipes/methods for about 5 years now. When I began making artisan bread with your method, I lived in NC, and the bread always worked. I then moved to a California, and the bread never turned out, not once. So, I stopped making it for a couple of years. I now live in KY, and I have started trying to make it again. The issue I am having is that the initial rise doesn’t not occur. I remember when I used to make this that the dough would rise up and almost fill the container, and it would have the correct look, as it does in your videos.
    How can I corr cat this issue?
    Thanks so much!
    Best regards,

    John

    Reply

      1. You have to go over everything you’re doing–something must have changed, and Kentucky/CA are the same so it’s probably not location:
        Ingredients? Yeast? Using hot water (or ice-cold)? Different flour other than all-purpose?

        But more important–what is the result when you bake the dough? Hole-structure? Flavor?

  10. Hi Jeff,

    Thanks for your quick response!
    The hole-structure is non-existent. I can’t seem to get it to do that. One thing I know has changed is that I’m only using 3 cups of water, and I used to use 3-1/4 cups.
    The taste at this point is just ok?
    I’ve gone back and watched all of your original videos that I had watched when I first started. I also have your book.
    Thanks again,

    John

    Reply

      2. mix a quarter teaspoon of yeast with a quarter teaspoon of sugar and mix into 2 tablespoons of warm (not hot) water. Should bubble within five minutes.

  11. I’m enjoying the book and mixed my first batch last evening an first loaf this morning. Good flavor but I didn’t leave it in long enough because the center wasn’t quite done. I found the temps for an instant read thermometer and will use that as a guide next time.
    I am starting with your master recipe in my inside oven–I use “convection bake”, not “convection roast”, right?–and hope to graduate to my outdoor wood-fired oven (I built a couple years ago) in the spring. I used a cast iron pot with a cover so I didn’t need to worry about steam–that seems to work fine.
    I appreciate your writing style. Keep up the good work!
    PS: I’m in my early 70’s and have wanted to bake bread since I retired and moved out to the country 12 years ago. I do most of the cooking as well as all of the animal raising/processing and now your book has helped me get closer to another part of my dream.

    Reply

    1. When you say “the book,” and “the Master Recipe,” which book do you have, and which Master Recipe are you using (what page number of which book)? We have many…

      Reply

  12. I’ve been searching your website but haven’t found an answer to this yet: can I bake two loaves at once? I want to make sure that isn’t a terrible idea before I do it! It’s going to be the garlic potato bread, if that makes a difference.

    Reply

    1. No big! Maybe a 15% increase in baking time, but not all ovens will need it. You can do it– just go by the brown-ness of the loaf.

      Reply

  13. Hi,

    I have been baking your bread for years and that has brought an unusual and tough request! I was asked to bake 50 small bread bowls for a fish chowder cook off at our local wildlife sanctuary in a couple of weeks. I have been baking from several of your books so I was thinking that I could shrink the dough portion size for the master recipe boule (new artisan bread in five minutes), but I was looking for what you thought I should start with for size and corresponding rise and bake times? A one pound boule is definitely too big. Maybe even switch to a peasant loaf or master pizza recipe? Thanks!

    Reply

    1. Small loaves can take shorter rest and bake times, maybe 15% less? Experiment with different sizes prior to bake-day.

      Reply

  14. When we lived in Colorado (6000 ft, low humidity) I had great results with the master recipe. Now we live in NW Florida (25 ft, ridiculous humidity). When I try the master recipe, I get something like stretchy cake batter. I used the scoop/sweep and by-weight measurements. Same results. The flour (White Lily AP) I’ve been using I discovered is only about 9%. Could that cause the dough to be so wet? Should I mix bread flour into the already made dough, and if I do, should I add more yeast & salt? I don’t want to waste the dough I made yesterday. Thank you in advance!

    Reply

  15. When you let the dough rise for 40 minutes after you take it out of the refrigerator, what should be the room temperature???? My formed dough is still cold when I out in the oven. How do I know it is ready to be cooked?

    Reply

    1. Hi Sally,

      You’ll need to give me some more detail about what book, dough and bread you are trying to bake and I can try to help you improve your crust.

      Thanks, Zoë

      Reply

  17. Hi, I do not have a pizza stone, but what I do have is loads of cast iron. Can I substitute the process of using the cast iron instead of the stone directly, or do I need to add any steps. And what are those steps if need. Thanks.

    Charlette Keys

    Reply

    1. Hi Charlette,

      Cast iron works brilliantly. You can use it just as you would a preheated stone. The only difference you may run into is the shape. If your cast iron is not flat, you’ll have to bake something that conforms to it’s shape.

      Thanks, Zoë

      Reply

      1. How about turning your largest skillet upside-down and cooking on the flat side? It might at least give you easier access to your pizza. Your only limit would the the size of the pan you are using….12″ skillet = 11″ or 12″ pizza (if your aim is good).

      2. Hi Rita,

        The pizza moves around as you are putting it in and out of the oven, so it would have to be a very small pizza or you may have bit of a mess.

        Thanks, Zoë

    1. Hi Rita,

      It’s a great idea, just need a larger ratio of pan to pizza. Little pizzas or bigger pan! 😉

      Cheers, Zoë

      Reply

  19. Working with the Master Recipe in the NEW Artisan Bread in 5 minutes a day; Initially, the dough was just too wet to be workable, having weighed all ingredients (using weights indicated on p. 53). In the last batch, I increased the Gold Medal Flour to 927 grams (apprx. 1/8 cup). Allowed to rise two hours. My question is: how much can I continue to tweak the amounts before I jeopardize the chemical reactions? With the added flour, the boule baked beautifully, however it was too slack to be able to slash before baking, and any shaping techniques (Challah, naan) were impossible. Can I continue to decrease water or add flour? Thanks!!

    Reply

    1. Hi John,

      Is this your first batch of our dough? Have you seen any of our videos to compare how wet your dough is? It’s so unusual for it to be too wet when using Gold Medal and doing it by weights. I wonder if there could have been an error when you went to tare after an ingredient? But, to answer your question, you can continue to add flour until the consistency seems right. Here is a video about shaping wet dough that can be helpful if this batch remains too wet: https://artisanbreadinfive.com/2017/04/16/new-video-shaping-the-ball-from-a-very-wet-dough/

      Thank you, Zoë

      Reply

      1. Hi Zoe,
        Thanks for the response. Not only have I watched that video, I’ve STUDIED it! I have to say that my results seem nearly identical to the video through the cloaking. It spreads a bit during the rise period. BUT, I have not been able to make clean slashes in the dough prior to baking, and in trying to roll braids for challah, or roll the dough thin for naan, the cloaking didn’t seem to be sufficient to prevent sticking during the shaping. I’m onto the next (4th) batch now…but I’m committed to achieving great results. Thanks for the book, the videos, and your accessibility!

        John

      2. Hi John,

        If you live in a particularly humid climate, it may just mean that you need to add more flour until it has the right consistency. You could also try switching to bread flour, that has more gluten structure.

        Thanks, Zoë

  20. Not a comment, 2 questions: 1. I carefully tuck my dough into a ball and put it on the pizza peal to rise. Invariably it spreads laterally, rather than rising into the lovely ball-shaped loaf you always picture. What am I doing wrong? I’ve baked bread for several hundred years and have never had this problem with free-form bread. Must admit, I haven’t tried my proofing basket. Other than this pesky problem, I really enjoy your system and the bread it produces. 2. Are there ways to modify my old favorites to your system? Ex: dilly casserole bread. I know the eggs won’t be a problem, if I put them in at the beginning. But what about the cottage cheese? And what if I want to make a single loaf at the middle of a batch? (I don’t use any of the social media, so I guess I should just check here for answers?)

    Reply

    1. Hi Alice,

      What recipe are you using?

      1. Here is a video that may help: https://artisanbreadinfive.com/2017/04/16/new-video-shaping-the-ball-from-a-very-wet-dough/ Our dough is wet, so it is crucial to get a strong gluten cloak, or it may spread. If that isn’t the issue, your dough may be a touch too wet.

      2. What book do you have? I can help you find a recipe to adapt to fit your dilly casserole bread.

      I’m not sure what you mean by “And what if I want to make a single loaf at the middle of a batch?”

      Thanks, Zoë

      Reply

  21. We are testing your “Whole-Grain Gluten-Free Loaf” for use in our bakery. We’d like to keep it vegan as well as gluten free. We are attempting to add a topping to the loaf (mixed nuts and seeds), but are having issues. We have tried adding it in the beginning, but the topping gets too brown, and also towards the end of baking (does not stick). We have tried water washes and oil spray to no avail – the topping just falls right off. Do you have any recommendations? It is a delicious bread and I think it will do very well here! Thanks in advance! – Sue

    Reply

    1. Marcia: There have been claims that natural sourdough yeasts break down carbohydrates and proteins like gluten so that there’s less carbohydrate and gluten in the finished bread. If you buy into this claim, you’re also claiming that natural yeasts do this more effectively than commercial yeast–we have no idea if that’s true. It’s not at all clear to anyone that a slight decrease in carbs and gluten has any effect on the health qualities of the bread, so we never make this kind of health claim.

      When we do sourdough, it’s because we think it’s delicious–best reason to do anything!

      Reply

      1. Hi Jeff and Marcia,

        Here’s my take from my research: Natural (sour dough) vs’ Commercial Yeast – no difference other than one yeast is natural and the other is commercial, although, I have found an organic prepackaged yeast (it is not fast acting, so a recipe that says to proof for 1 hour, you’re looking at closer to 1.5 – 2 hrs) that is a true yeast and not artificial (which is what all commercial yeast is). So, it boils down to what I call personal preference on the yeast or no yeast added. As for the lower gluten or digestibility – I do believe that it helps, but only for those with gluten sensitivities and not those with true gluten allergies. Even for myself, who has absolutely no issues with gluten prefer taking the time to make sourdough or the ABIn5 method, as it does seem to make a difference in how I feel afterword. Whenever I make my sourdough or my ABIn5 breads, I let it sit in the fridge overnight (at least 12 hours) at least 99% of the time. There are those rare occasions when I want bread the same day though! There is scientific proof that allowing the flour to soak overnight does break down the phytic (I think that’s the word!) acid that makes the final bread easier for your body to digest which allows your body to then absorb more of the nutrients. Then again, I also use about 90% fresh ground flours in all the bread I bake, so this may be more noticeable in the fresh ground flours than in the basically nutrition-less flours you find on the store shelves, even the whole wheat stuff (in my opinion!!!!!!!!). Do I have any personal scientific evidence to back any of this up – nope! Not a scientist, just sharing what I have found in my research and experienced personally. 🙂

  23. Is my water too wet? I made some good batches with steady improvements but the last three have been too wet to handle. The very first was too wet so increased flour by 1/8 c. and that worked well for several batches. but now worse than ever. This has been over several months, in wet and dry weather, hot and cold weather, with various brands of flour– Gold Medal, King Arthur, White Lily.

    Keep adding flour?

    Reply

  24. Why use plastic wrap to cover rye bread dough while it waits 90 min pre baking? The wrap sticks and deflates the loaf when removed. I’ve read on other sites to lightly oil the plastic wrap or use a shower cap. However I really dislike using so much plastic wrap. What function does the plastic wrap serve? To trap gas, keep dough moist while rising? Would covering the dough with a tall aluminum baking pan work? Love both your Healthy Bread and Artisan books and the wonderful sourdough Master Recipe: Boule. Thanks so much!

    Reply

    1. keeps surface from drying out, but there are other strategies that don’t touch the fragile surface. Your idea will work great, or anything like it (which creates a humid environment).

      Reply

  27. I bought the 6qt container from King Flour and it has a lid but it looks like an airtight lid? Is that an acceptable lid?

    Reply

    1. Hi Mary Beth,

      Yes, it is, but you’ll need to leave it open a hair just to allow the gas to escape, or put a pin sized hole in the lid.

      Thanks, Zoë

      Reply
  28. Mary Beth Havel....it's me again from the question above about the NON air-tight container. So....I tried to put a tiny hole in the center and it completely split the lid. What container do you use? I really want this to work! Thanks Zoe says:

    Hey Zoe, it’s me again from the question above. I tried to put a tiny hole in the Kings Flour’s lid and it split right down the middle. What do you use for a container that is not air-tight? I really want this to work. Thanks

    Reply

    2. I use a tall enamel soup pot and stick a toothpick in between the lid and the rim of the pot. Been working for me for several years. After a couple of days I remove the toothpick. Hope this helps and saves you some money if you have a soup pot.

      Reply

  29. I tried the master whole wheat recipe in a loaf pan and though it’s a little bit crunchy for sandwich bread, the texture turned out yummy. I just found it to taste rather yeasty. I used SAF instant yeast is that why? I always use that with great results in my standard whole wheat bread and never get that yeasty taste.

    Reply

  30. What is causing my 2lb peasant loaf (from ab5m) to break apart at the bottom or at the top at the slash? I am using 110 grams rye and ap flour to for a total 790 grams. I am proofing for 40 minutes and slashing a 3 inch cross about 1/4 to 1/8 inch deep. Do i need a deeper slash? I am at 6500 feet in a very dry climate. The bread has a good crumb and crust, just not smooth.

    Reply

    1. Hi Mac,

      How long are you letting the bread rest before baking? The cracking at the bottom is typically due to under proofing, so you may need to increase the rest by 30 minutes.

      How long are you preheating your baking stone?

      Thanks, Zoë

      Reply

  31. I am trying to make ciabatta bread from the master recipe found on page 53 of the 2013 edition of The New Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. The loaves come out of the oven with large cracks or peaks on the crust.
    What am I doing wrong?

    Stephanie

    Reply

    1. Hi Stephanie,

      You may need to flatten the dough more and make sure that you are letting it rest long enough. Try letting it rest an extra 20-30 minutes. If your kitchen is very cool, then even longer.

      Thanks, Zoe

      Reply

  32. Hi Jeff,

    I just bought the healthy version of your cookbook and am so excited to dive in!

    There are some recipes that call for vital wheat germ. How do you recommend I adjust recipes if I don’t include this ingredient?

    (Wondering specifically about the master loaf and healthy challah for starters but hopefully there’s an overall recommendation I can apply to any of the recipes.)

    Thanks!

    Reply

    1. Hi Phyllis,

      Did you get the New Healthy Bread Book or the older version? In the new version, we give the technique for baking without Vital Wheat Gluten for all the recipes.

      Thanks, Zoë

      Reply

  33. Hello again!
    I wrote in earlier this evening
    about the basic recipe done in the dutch oven, using your sites dutch oven method. My first problem was the burnt spots on the bottom. The second problem is the interior crumb has hardly any holes & the bread is gummy. Any thoughts?

    Rosemarie

    Reply

  34. When baking bread in a bread cloche, do you still recommend (1) preheating the cloche to 500 degrees, (2) baking the bread at 500degrees with the lid on for 20 minutes, (3) then removing the lid and turning the heat down to 450 degrees to finish baking for another 15-20 minutes?

    Reply

    1. I’m a bit confused. Which recipe are you working from; which of our books, which page number?

      Reply

    1. When using a cloche, I just preheat it for 40 minutes (top and bottom), at the temperature recommended in the recipe. Some people prefer preheating it at a higher temp (25 to 50 degrees, though I think 50 is pushing it), then turning it down at the start of baking.

      Slide the loaf onto the heated bottom, cover it, and bake for 2/3’s of the recommended bake-time in the closed cloche. Then uncover for the final 1/3.

      May take some experimentation, every oven and cloche are different.

      Reply

    2. When using a cloche, I just preheat it for 40 minutes (top and bottom), at the temperature recommended in the recipe. Some people prefer preheating it at a higher temp (25 to 50 degrees, though I think 50 is pushing it), then turning it down at the start of baking.

      Slide the loaf onto the heated bottom, cover it, and bake for 2/3’s of the recommended bake-time in the closed cloche. Then uncover for the final 1/3.

      May take some experimentation, every oven and cloche are different.

      Reply

  36. Jeff, thank you for your advice. I am going to try preheating at 475 degrees and then baking at the recipe’s recommended 450 degrees.

    Reply

  37. I just wanted to tell you how much I LOVE your recipes. I have been using your Artisan Bread in 5 minutes a Day for several years now and get such delicious results every time. I love the Olive Dough for focaccias and the Pumpernickel Dough for loaves and rolls. It is all GOOD. I can’t thank you enough for these recipes. Will be getting another of your books soon. Keep the ideas coming.

    Reply

  39. Having a hard time slashing the loaf before baking. I have tried a sharp knife or razor blade. Neither make a clean cut but instead drag through the dough. Thinking of leaving the dough uncovered during the rise and maybe a dry surface will allow me to slash the loaf. Thoughts please.

    Reply

  40. Where do I find “powdered caramel coloring?” Aaaarrgh!

    I am 73, when I ask the kids who work at the grocery store, they just give me that blank look and say: “we have bread in the Bakery Department.” Like the source of chicken eggs, I don’t think they comprehend where food begins; if you catch my drift.

    Reply

    1. TJ, you have to mail away for it. Otherwise you can make your own in liquid form… it’s in some of our books. But tell me which one you have?

      Reply

  41. My loaves don’t slash neatly. The blade drags and pulls the dough, and doesn’t cut deep enough, even when I have just sharpened my knife. Dough too wet? What am I doing wrong?

    Reply

  42. Hi there, I was wondering if you could tell me which would be the best dough to use to make meat filled bread. I have just purchased The new artisan bread in 5 minutes a day and also Healthy bread in 5minutes a day. I have made some bread from The new artisan bread in 5 minutes a day and my husband was very impressed but he asked about a meat filled bread.
    Many Thanks
    Looking forward to you response.
    Jackie

    Reply

    1. Hi Jackie,

      I typically use the olive oil dough or even the challah, which is a bit enriched. You could use either the book for those recipe, depending if you want whole grains or not.

      Enjoy, Zoë

      Reply

  43. I am using The New Artisan Bread 2013 Master Recipe and I am not sure what I may be doing wrong. I am making a 2lb loaf and when I put in pan to rise it does great until it gets to top of loaf pan and instead of staying firm and rising above the pan it starts to spill over the sides. I live right at 4000 altitude so not sure if I need to do something different. What do you think?

    Reply

    1. definitely not the altitude. I think the problem is that you’re just filling the pan too high. Try using less dough in this pan and see what you think

      Reply

  44. Hi,

    I’d like to up my game a bit on the boules I bake (Master Recipe from the New Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a day). I have seen some loaves where there are concentric rings of flour and ridges on the crust. I believe this come from using a proofing basket?

    Any tips for getting and using this “device”?

    Thanks!
    Eric

    Reply

  45. Hi,

    I am reading through your book and see that the Europepean peasant loaf has rye flour, whole wheat and regular flour. Can I substitute the rye with whole-wheat? Do I need to add more water?

    Reply

    1. The exact recipe you want is on page 74 of the 2007 edition of the book, and on page 131 of the 2013 edition of the book.

      Reply

  46. Hi,

    I have the new 5. Min a day artisan bread. On page 309 it has a recipe containing regular flour, rye flour and whole-wheat flour. Can I replace the rye with whole wheat? Also would I need to adjust the water if I do?

    Reply

  47. Hello. I am very excited to begin making some healthier artisan breads. We have been making your simple white artisan breads for several years and loving every crumb. I was curious as to whether we could incorporate seeds directly into the dough as opposed to just sprinkling on them top. Also, would wheat berries need to be cooked before introducing them into the recipes?
    Thank you.

    Reply

    1. Sure can–you might be interested in our whole grains book, which is on Amazon at https://amzn.to/1NdVkgj That book has a recipe for Vollkornbrot, with directions for using wheat berries.

      … and yes, you can incorporate seeds directly.

      Reply

  48. Hi,

    It’s the “new artisan bread in 5 minutes a day.” The recipe pf that bread is on page 309.

    Reply

    1. Is this from the Kindle or other electronic edition? As I say, the hardcover edition’s page 309 has the last page of the Sticky Pecan Caramel Rolls recipe, and there’s no rye or whole wheat in that. Tell me the title of the recipe you’re looking at.

      Reply

  49. My loaves often have a “nose” protruding from the bottom or come out with one side higher than the other with an uneven bottom no matter how nicely they look before I put them important the oven. They still taste wonderful!

    Reply

    1. Hi David,

      This is usually due to the dough being under proofed before baking. Just let the dough rest an additional 30 minutes before baking and it should take care of it.

      Thanks, Zoë

      Reply

  50. Hi! I am an avid baker of your master loaves and have tried some variations – the classics are so good, I find little need to vary very far!!! I am going on a family trip and want to show off by baking the focaccia at the destination. I have my olive oil dough premixed and wonder if I can store the refrigerated dough in a ziplock for easier storage in my cooler en route or does it need to have air / more room / other reason not to?

    Thanks!!!

    Reply

    1. Hi Lisa,

      I am so thrilled you are enjoying all the bread. You can store the dough in a plastic bag, but make sure it is large enough for the dough to expand. If it gets warm at all, the yeast will activate and you want to make sure there is room or it will try to escape the bag.

      Cheers, Zoë

      Reply

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