Homemade Rye Bread Tips
Rye has many health benefits, and rye bread has a wonderful flavor – especially when it’s paired with cheese!
For all these reasons, I’ve worked hard to develop a satisfactory two-pound Bread Machine Rye Bread recipe.
The first thing I learned in my experiments is that I don’t like 100% rye bread. The rye flavor is too strong for me and the lack of gluten in the bread causes it to be quite heavy.
My solution to those issues was simple: use a blend of white wheat and rye flour, with slightly more wheat than rye. And since rye flour has less gluten than wheat, I add 1 Tablespoon of wheat gluten to get a nice rise. If you prefer a heavier bread, you an omit the gluten. For a greater rye flavor, simply use a greater ratio of rye to wheat flour.
As always, I use my signature digital thermometer method to warm recipe liquid to a specific temperature range so my yeast has what it needs to work.
Bread-Machine Rye Bread Recipe
Equipment:
- 2- to 3-quart mixing bowl
- 2-cup measuring utensil
- Tablespoon
- Measuring cups, from 1/4-cup size on up to 1-cup
- Whisk or fork
- Digital thermometer
- Bread machine
- Bread pan
- Spatula
- Butter, oil or no-stick spray to coat bread pan
Ingredients:
- 1 1/4 cups water, ranging from 105 to 110 degrees
- 1 1/2 teaspoons yeast
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon gluten
- 2 1/4 – 2 1/2 cups 100% white wheat flour (red wheat will produce a coarser loaf)
- 1 3/4 cup 100% rye flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt (I recommend Himalayan pink salt)
- 2 Tablespoons of melted butter or oil
- 2 Tablespoons molasses
Method:
If necessary (typically during the winter months), use hot tap water to heat your measuring utensil and bread machine canister before preparing your bread dough. This usually takes just a few minutes once the hot water is placed in the utensil. Pour the water out before measuring your ingredients.
Place 1 1/4 cups of hot tap water in 2-cup measuring utensil. Add the sugar and stir it thoroughly to blend it with the water. Check the water’s temperature. If it’s below 105 degrees (Fahrenheit), warm 1 or 2 Tablespoons of the liquid on your stove top to boost the yeast mixture’s overall temperature (105-110 degrees); if too hot, allow it to cool for a few minutes. Once the mixture is within the desired temperature range, add the yeast and stir to dissolve it.
Allow the yeast mixture to rest for about 3 minutes. It will form a foamy “head” to indicate that the yeast is activated.
While you wait for the yeast, blend dry ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, measure flour, gluten and salt. Sift the ingredients together using a whisk or a fork.
If using butter, melt it slightly or cut into small pieces so it blends thoroughly with your dough.
Once your yeast mixture is ready, pour out the water used to heat the bread machine canister. Carefully pour the yeast mixture into the pan, using a spatula to clear the measuring cup. Carefully add the flour mixture to the canister. Pour the oil or softened/chopped butter and the molasses on top of the flour. Select your machine settings and start the mixing/kneading process.
My bread machine completes a cycle of mix/knead (10-18 minutes), rest (20 minutes), mix/knead (10-18 minutes). Observe the dough as it mixes. It should pull away from the side of the canister. If it doesn’t, it’s too sticky. Add flour 1-2 Tablespoons at a time until it forms a solid ball.
Before the last part of the dough cycle completes, prepare your bread pan. If necessary, warm the pan before coating it (spraying with a non-stick product, insert parchment, etc.).
Once the dough cycle is completed, gently place the dough into the coated bread pan, cover it and place it in a warm area (I use my oven, which I heat to close to as warm as 120 degrees). It will take 30-45 minutes for the dough to rise.
Once the dough is raised, place it in a preheated 350-degree (Fahrenheit) oven to bake for 30-45 minutes or until the crust is nicely browned. Remove from the oven and immediately place on a cooling rack. Try to give it some time to cool before you cut any slices!
Once it’s completely cooled, store the bread in a plastic bag. In summer, home-made bread quickly spoils and should be refrigerated once it’s cooled.
Find more of Loretta Sorensen’s recipes, bread baking tips and her book at www.bakeyourbestever.com. Her recent book, Secrets To Baking Your Best Bread Ever! contains recipes and a wealth of baking pointers. Follow her onFacebook and Pinterest (Secrets To Baking Your Best Bread Ever).
