Indulge in the timeless classic of American Sandwich Bread, a versatile culinary delight that forms the foundation of countless beloved sandwiches and toasts. This iconic bread captivates with its soft, feathery crumb, slightly crisp crust, and a neutral flavor profile that harmoniously complements a wide array of fillings, from savory meats and cheeses to sweet jams and fruits. Whether you prefer the convenience of a bread machine or the traditional warmth of an oven, this article presents two comprehensive recipes that guide you through the process of crafting this sandwich essential. Discover the secrets to achieving the perfect texture and flavor, ensuring your sandwiches and toasts reach new heights of culinary excellence.
Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!
BONNIE'S ARTISAN DUTCH OVEN SANDWICH BREAD
This recipe was created to make a special organic sandwich bread that would hold up to any sandwich filling. One that was pliable and would not crumble, and one that would slice easily. It would have to be a great tasting sandwich bread, soft in the middle, crunchy on the outside, and it would have to be good to eat plain or...
Provided by BonniE !
Categories Other Breads
Time 55m
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- 1. EQUIPMENT: Small Dutch Oven with tight fitting lid Parchment paper Danish Whisk for mixing
- 2. Gather your ingredients and read through the recipe before you begin. Make sure your ingredients are room temperature.
- 3. The Danish whisk is a wonderful tool for mixing flour and wet dough. I use it all the time for pulling dough away from the sides of the bowl. It is very sticky dough and sticks to your fingers, but it doesn't stick to the Danish whisk.
- 4. When the bread is completely cool, place in a ziplock bag with two large paper towels to keep moisture from forming. The bread can be frozen.
- 5. MIXING THE DOUGH Make sure all your ingredients are at room temperature. I set the ingredients on the counter at least an hour before I make bread. Using a large mixing bowl, combine all the DRY ingredients and mix until well combined. Measure the room temperature water and pour it over the flour. Take the Danish whisk and mix the dough until you don't see anymore flour. No need to knead!
- 6. This will be a loose dough. Cover the bowl tightly with saran wrap. I put mine in the pantry because there is no draft in there from the air conditioner. Let the mixture rise overnight for 15 to 18 hours. It will double in size, and it will have bubbles all over the top of it. The dough tries to pull away from the sides of the bowl. It smells yeasty. It is ready! :)
- 7. FORMING THE DOUGH Dip your hands in flour and sprinkle some flour around the edges of the bowl. Gently pull the bread away from the sides of the bowl with the Danish whisk.
- 8. Gradually loosen the dough from the bottom of the bowl. Use as little flour as necessary.
- 9. Shape into a loose ball without kneading. Turn it out on a cutting board. Cover the dough with a tea towel, and let it rest for an hour.
- 10. PREHEATING THE OVEN Preheat the oven AND the pot (without the lid) to 425 degrees (for rustic crunchy) or 420 degrees (for a softer crunch) about ten minutes before the dough is ready to bake. (Read more about the temperature in STEP 15) Meanwhile, place parchment paper in a couple of nesting bowls to give it a bowl shape. I put something heavy in it to hold it down until ready to use.
- 11. NOTE: If you like the earthy taste of cornmeal on the bottom of your Artisan bread, sprinkle some on the parchment paper just before you put the bread in the oven.
- 12. BAKING THE BREAD After the dough has rested for an hour, remove the tea towel and cut two to three slits in the top of the dough with a sharp knife.
- 13. Remove the hot pot from the oven. Gently lift the dough and place it in the prepared parchment paper, and gather the edges of the parchment paper in both hands and lift both paper and dough into the center of the hot pot. (Careful it is a hot pot!) This is easier than trying to juggle dough that wants to move and you trying to drop it in the middle of the hot pot. Cover with its lid. Using mitts, return the pot to the hot oven.
- 14. Bake for 40 minutes covered and remove the lid to check how brown it is, and if it is not brown, continue to bake with lid on an additional 10 minutes until golden brown and done in the center. You can also take the temperature with a thermometer. Mine is done all the way through in 50 minutes. So I haven't needed to use a thermometer.
- 15. NOTE: Every oven is different. So watch your bread the last few minutes of baking time. In my oven, the bread bakes perfectly in 50 minutes without peeking at 425 degrees to yield a crunchy bread. However, I have been experimenting, and I tried doubling the recipe, but that didn't turn out well. It is best to make only single loaves with this recipe. Next, I experimented making the most perfect loaf ever, and baked at 420 F for 50 minutes with the lid on, yielded an outstanding, golden brown loaf of sandwich bread, pliable and not crumbly. The crust is slightly softer than the loaf baked at 425 F. I like rustic crunchy, and my husband likes a softer crunch. Success! Tip: When you are baking bread in your oven, take note of what you would like to see changed in the finished product. Modern ovens come with adjustable temperatures. You can experiment and find just the right temperature that will work the best in your oven.
- 16. AFTER BAKING After you have removed the Dutch oven pot from the oven, brush the top of the bread with the melted butter to keep it soft. Remove the bread from the pot and set on a rack to cool, and cover with a tea towel. Allow to cool before slicing....Of course, I do realize that is just wishful thinking! Enjoy!
AMERICAN SANDWICH BREAD - ABM OR OVEN
Entered for safe-keeping, adapted from Cook's Illustrated to use half bread flour and half whole wheat flour. This makes one 9-inch loaf, so I have loaded the ingredients in the order my Zo ABM would prefer, as I am usually lazy about bread. Note: 2 1/4 teaspoons is the amount of yeast in one envelope. I have included directions for use with standard mixer or food processor, which will of course have longer prep times.
Provided by KateL
Categories Breads
Time 2h28m
Yield 1 9-inch loaf, 10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- **ABM METHOD**.
- Add ingredients in order recommended by your ABM manufacturer.
- Select Quick setting, and start.
- After 8 minutes of kneading, check the dough consistency. If too dry, and dough is not pulling in all of the flour, add a tablespoon of water, and check again. If too wet, and dough is visibly wet, add a tablespoon of all-purpose flour, and check again.
- Remove from ABM when done. Remove the bread from the pan, transfer to a wire rack, and cool to room temperature.
- Slice and serve.
- **OVEN METHOD**.
- Set one oven rack on lowest possible level. Set second rack in middle position. Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Once the oven has reached 200 degrees, maintain the heat for 10 minutes, then turn off the oven.
- IF USING STANDING MIXER.
- Mix the flour and salt in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the dough hook.
- Mix the milk, water, butter, honey and yeast in a 2-cup liquid measuring cup.
- Turn the mixer to low and slowly add the liquid. When the dough comes together, increase the speed to medium and mix until the dough is smooth and satiny, stopping the mixer 2-3 times to scrape dough from the hook, if necessary, about 10 minutes. (After 5 minutes of kneading, if the dough is still sticking to the sides of the bowl, add up to 1/4 cup of flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough is no longer sticky.).
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead to form a smooth, round ball, about 15 seconds.
- Go to Step 20.
- IF USING FOOD PROCESSOR.
- Mix flour and salt in bowl of food processor fitted with the steel blade.
- Add liquid ingredients. Process until rough ball forms. Let dough rest 2 minutes.
- Process 35 seconds.
- Turn dough onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead dough by hand until dough is smooth and satiny, 4-5 minutes.
- Place the dough in a very lightly oiled large bowl, rubbing the dough around the bowl to coat lightly. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the warmed oven until the dough doubles in size, 40-50 minutes.
- Gently press the dough into an 8-inch square that measures 1-inch thick. Starting with the side farthest from you, roll the dough firmly into a cylinder, pressing with your fingers to make sure the dough sticks to itself.
- Turn the dough seam-side up and pinch it closed. Place the dough seam-side down in a greased 9x5-inch loaf pan and press it gently so it touches all 4 sides of the pan.
- Cover with plastic wrap. Set aside in a warm spot until the dough almost doubles in size, 20-30 minutes.
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Boil 2 cups of water and pour into a baking pan, and place it on the bottom rack.
- If possible, place the loaf on a rack above the baking pan of water; otherwise, place the 2 pans side by side.
- Bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted at an angle from the short end just above the pan rim into the center of the loaf reads 195 degrees F, about 40-50 minutes.
- Remove the bread from the pan, transfer to a wire rack, and cool to room temperature.
- Slice and serve.
AMERICAN SANDWICH BREAD
This comes from The New Best Recipe (published by the editors of Cook's Illustrated), although I found it on http://annieseats.wordpress.com. This got the seal of approval at my house - great for sandwiches!! I make two loaves every weekend, freezing the second for later in the week.
Provided by WickedCook17
Categories Yeast Breads
Time 2h15m
Yield 1 loaf, 10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Mix milk, water, butter, honey and yeast together.
- Combine 3 1/2 cups flour and salt in bowl of stand mixer.
- Gradually add milk mixture to flour.
- Increase mixer speed to medium, mix for 10 minutes, until dough is smooth. (You may need to add extra flour to get dough to the right consistency. I always do.).
- Turn dough out onto floured surface, knead briefly to form a small, round ball.
- Place dough in a greased bowl, turn to coat.
- To Proof: Original recipe suggests while you are making the dough, heat an oven to 200 for 10 minutes, then turning off. Place bowl covered with plastic wrap in oven to proof. However, I cover with a towel and use my warming burner. Let rise 40 - 50 minutes, or until doubled in size.
- Turn onto floured work surface, gently roll dough into a 1 x 9 inch rectangle. Roll the short side into a tight cylinder. Pinch the seams closed. Place the seam-side down in a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan.
- Cover with plastic wrap or towel; set in a warm spot until the dough almost doubles in size, 20-30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350. Placing a glass dish with boiling water inside.
- Bake 40 -50 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer reads 195°.
- Brush with melted butter, cool on wire rack.
- To freeze: Cool completely, cover with plastic wrap or foil. Place in freezer bag. Thaw on counter overnight.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 238.1, Fat 4.8, SaturatedFat 2.7, Cholesterol 11.6, Sodium 487.9, Carbohydrate 42.5, Fiber 1.5, Sugar 6.5, Protein 6
Tips:
- Use bread flour for a chewier texture, or all-purpose flour for a softer bread.
- If you're using an oven, preheat it to 375°F (190°C) before baking the bread.
- To make sure the bread is cooked through, insert a toothpick into the center of the loaf. If it comes out clean, the bread is done.
- Let the bread cool completely before slicing and serving.
- Store the bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Conclusion:
American sandwich bread is a versatile and delicious bread that can be used for a variety of sandwiches, toast, and other dishes. It's easy to make at home with a bread machine or in the oven, and it's a great way to save money on store-bought bread. With a few simple ingredients and a little time, you can enjoy fresh, homemade American sandwich bread whenever you want.
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