Are you ready to help your bread rise into high, billowy, beautiful loaves? Our grandmothers knew that certain ingredients helped bread dough rise faster and higher, have a better texture, and keep longer. These things still work well today!
If your bread doesn’t rise as high as you’d like read on!
One of the most frequent questions people ask me when it comes to baking bread is how I achieve those big, fluffy loaves. It’s not really a secret – I do what commercial bakeries do.
Dough enhancer.
Dough Enhancers Will Help Your Bread Rise Higher
There are a lot of reasons bread doesn’t rise to its full potential, so to speak, but one way to ensure that gorgeous high rise loaf is a dough enhancer. Commercial bakeries use it for a reason.
Now, I am not telling you to use bunch of chemicals that you dump into the dough mixture. There are lots of natural ingredients that help your bread achieve that gorgeous shape that you are looking for. Here are some of my favorite ingredients to make your dough rise higher. You can use one of them or combine several. Take some time to try them to see what works for you.
Ginger
I first learned about adding 1/4 teaspoon powdered ginger from an ancient cookbook. Old cookbooks are one of my addictions and I found this one in a second hand store. That was back when I first started baking bread in 1974. The note to add ginger was handwritten in the flyleaf so I tried it – and loved the result.
Ginger is still my favorite additive when I bake bread. The spice boosts the yeast like that first cup of coffee hitting you in the morning, if you know what I mean. The yeast gets more active much more quickly. Add 1/4 teaspoon of ginger in with the water when you are first proofing the yeast to help your bread rise higher and fluffier.
By the way? Prior to my posting a bread recipe with ginger in the ingredients list back in 2006 there were virtually NO bread recipes on the internet with ginger as an ingredient.
Yay me.
Potato Water
The next time you boil potatoes don’t salt the water. When the potatoes are done save that cloudy water in a Mason jar tightly covered in the fridge. Then, when you are ready to make your fluffy loaf of bread, warm the potato water to 110F and use it in place of the water in the recipe (in equal measure).
This works well to help your bread rise because of the potato starch in the water. The starch encloses the gas bubbles in dough and strengthens them. That makes your bread rise lighter and higher. Of course it also gives a pleasant flavor and I feel good about being as frugal as my grandmother was!
Don’t keep potato water more than a few days, though. It sours and can really smell up your kitchen.
Wheat Gluten
Wheat gluten is present in all wheat flour and it is the substance that gives the dough that elastic feel. It strengthens the dough and holds the gas bubbles produced by the yeast and to make the bread rise higher.
You can buy vital wheat gluten, which is just the gluten. Substitute 1 tablespoon gluten for 1 tablespoon flour in each cup of flour for whole wheat bread and about half that for white. So, if your recipe calls for 8 cups whole wheat flour you’ll remove 1/2 cup of the flour and add 1/2 cup of gluten. Add with the flour.
If you’re making pizza dough or Italian bread you can add about 1 1/2 tablespoons per cup of flour to give your bread that chewier texture.
Dry Milk Powder
Adding 2 tablespoons instant dry milk powder per loaf of bread will help your bread rise higher, stay soft, and hold the moisture longer. That means it won’t get stale as quickly. Dry milk powder creates a more golden brown crust and improves nutrition, too.
Add it with the flour.
Vitamin C Powder
Don’t use this in your artisan type breads that have a coarser crumb but it will help sandwich loaves have a soft crumb — especially good when it comes to wheat breads. The acid of the vitamin C helps the yeast to work better and also acts as a preservative by deterring the growth of mold and bacteria. I toss the contents of a bottle of vitamin C tablets in the blender, turn them into a powder, and then store it in a Mason jar. I use 1/8 teaspoon per loaf of bread, adding it in with the flour.
Homemade Dough Enhancer Mixture
Yeah I know. More than 5 ingredients to help your dough rise because this is number six. Let’s think of it as a bonus, ok?
If you want to take the time to make a homemade dough enhancer mixture this one is pretty good. Store it tightly covered in the refrigerator.
- 1 cup wheat gluten
- 2 tablespoons lecithin granules
- 1 teaspoon vitamin C granules
- 2 tablespoons powdered fruit pectin
- 2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin
- 1/2 cup nonfat dry milk powder
- 1 teaspoon powdered ginger
Mix together and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Add 3 tablespoons for each loaf of bread a recipe makes and it works like a charm.
Other Possibilities
There are other additives you can use, of course. In addition to the ones mentioned above people add dried potato flakes, lecithin, vinegar or a variety of other ingredients. I tend to stick with those listed here because in the 41+ years I’ve been making bread they haven’t let me down!
Resources
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Just about a year ago I wrote and published a bread making book, Bread Bootcamp: It’s Not a Cookbook…It’s an Adventure. I took all of the questions y’all have asked me over the years and created a bread baking course that takes you through the process from the basics to the advanced. You start easy then get to the more complicated recipes. By the time you finish the book you can make a variety of breads.
I am currently working on a follow-up book but that’s a few months out. If you are serious about learning to bake bread this is the book to get.
Gluten flour is available almost everywhere but I often get mine on Amazon because it’s just so darn convenient. Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Flour
If you liked these bread baking tips you may also like…
Yeast Bread Baking Tips Part 1 and Part 2
Yeast Bread Baking Troubleshooting
Karen Adams
Hi I was just wondering if you can taste the ginger in any of the bread you make. Thanks for all the great information.
Marye
Nope! It only activates the yeast – it doesn’t add flavor!
NC
Firstly thanks for all the great info on this site. I am glad that you have listed the dough improvers which will help my dough rise….and other great resource which I plan to use. Also your story/background is such an inspiration for me especially about raising these many kids :))
Quick question:
You mentioned 2 tablespoon Instant Dry Milk Powder.. I just wanted to make sure before adding it. Because your HOMEMADE DOUGH ENHANCER MIXTURE has 1/2 cup non fat dry milk powder.
Now should i buy non-fat or full fat or skimmed or any regular milk powder…And does it have to be instant or regular? So I am confused…..please help 🙂 Thanks in advance.
Marye
It’s the same thing. 🙂
Bonita M
Am excited to try your tips on adding ginger, Vitamin C or gelatin. Was diagnosed pre-diabetic 22 months ago and quit baking. My usual methods, potato water, mashed potatoes, potato flakes, malt syrup, etc., are now forbidden. I’ve tried commercial diabetic breads, YUCK, No Thanks. So thank you ever so much for these tips! Can’t wait to try making whole grain bread again.
Question: do you use much whey, either sour or sweet, in your bread baking? I can’t seem to use as much whey as we create from clabbering milk or yogurt making. I was a huge milk drinker, now I can’t. I keep hearing it’s wonderful for bread baking. Been going through Mom’s cookbook collection. Just not finding the recipes I thought I’d find for whey bread.
Marye
I don’t use it but you can use it in equal amounts to replace water.
Janet
I grind my own flour. I sometimes add some AP flour when
making hard crusted rolls that have a very soft dough. I’m thinking I
will try the ginger.
I cannot get me sourdough breads to rise high. Please help. I even
add a 1/4 tsp of yeast with no success.
Please any advice would be appreciated.
Marye
When you make your sourdough make sure you use spring water – tap water can contain chemicals that weaken the wild yeast. Also – keep in mind sour dough doesn’t rise as high, usually… and since you are using home ground flour the wheat is heavy and keeping it from rising. You could use part white flour or add gluten flour. Hope this helps
Claudia Mortensen
What role does the gelatin and the pectin play? I just like to understand these things. Thank you.
Marye
They help stabilize the proteins in the flour, I believe.
Rachylle sustiguer
Can i use Vitamin C with wheat flour and AP flour combination?
Marye
sure!
Heidi
I use sourdough starter in our breads, even the regular recipes with dry yeast. My question is, can I use your dough enhancer without the C? Will the ginger be ok?
Also, I used to use potato water because grandma did, but when I retired and started this Sourdough adventure, I stopped. I think I’ll go back to using it when possible! Thanks so much.
Marye
You should be fine without the C.
Dennis O Connor
How long does your dough enhancer recipe keep in a refrigerator
MARYE AUDET-WHITE
I’ve always used it within a short period of time. I’d think at least a month or two.
Tammy Schinhofen
Will any of these tips work using almond or coconut flours?
MARYE AUDET-WHITE
I don’t think so, Tammy. 🙁 they need gluten.
Alice Shanks
I live in North Texas and it has been raining for a week now so when I read rainy days were good I decided to make you honey buttermilk bread. Beautiful, I have never gotten this kind of rise. Thank you for this. Hope I can use use the ginger in my roll dough.
Marye Audet
You can totally use the ginger in any recipe calling for yeast. I hear ya about the rain… we’re in North Texas as well and our property is bordered by two creeks so we’re watching them fill up! I am so glad you like the recipe!!