NEVER BUY BREAD AGAIN – TOP 4

REASONS TO MAKE YOUR OWN

BREAD
Home baked bread is a great and easy way to cut down on your grocery bill. Making your
own bread at home can cost half as much per loaf than what you would pay at the grocery
store.

AND WHAT’S EVEN BETTER?...IT’S TASTIER AND HEALTHIER!

The delicious joy of biting into a thick slice of warm, freshly baked bread is an experience
that money cannot buy. But as delicious as homemade bread is, some are intimidated by
the idea of making their own bread. They can worry that baking from scratch takes too
much time and effort, however the benefits of making homemade bread outweigh the
worries.

4 BENEFITS OF BAKING YOUR OWN BREAD

One of the biggest benefits of baking your own bread is that it saves money. However, there
are many other reasons by baking bread is a great alternative to purchasing it. Baking is
fun, mixing is relaxing, you’ll have contentment of knowing and controlling what is in your
food, and bragging rights for when you serve your top quality bread to friends and family!
Even if you have a busy, tight schedule, you can effortlessly turn out fresh baked bread with
just a little bit of planning. It will easily become a part of your weekly routine and turn the
only-once-in-a-while treat to a regular habit.

1. IT’S CHEAP.

A normal loaf of white bread costs an average of $1.30 at the grocery store, with whole
wheat being a bit pricier at around $2.00 a loaf. If you buy seven-grain or sourdoughs, those
could be around $4.00. Most home bakers find they can make their bread at home from
anywhere between $0.40 and $1.00 per loaf!! Those are prices unheard of at a grocery
store.

2. IT’S HEALTHIER.
The downfall is that homemade bread goes bad much quicker than the standard store
bought bread, but that is only because it does not contain the additives and preservatives
store bought bread has. Store bought loaves also do not have much nutrition as well. They
don’t contain much protein or fibre, and their calories are mostly from starch. We want to
note that not all store bought breads are equal. You can buy bread at a store that contain
better nutrition, but you will have to pay a lot more for those breads. By making your own
bread, you do not have to choose between nutrition and cost.

3. IT’S CUSTOMIZABLE

This is one of the best perks of baking your own bread. If you are on a special diet - vegan,
low-carb, gluten-free, low-sugar, high fibre…whichever your special food needs are, you
can find a recipe to make your bread however you want. If you have a restricted diet, it can
be hard to find bread in stores you are able to eat, and if you do, it is most likely going to be
quite expensive.

4. IT’S FUN.

Baking your own bread provides a lot of fun and enjoyment. It’s fun to mix all the
ingredients, knead it, and shape it. It is very satisfying to take a loaf out of the oven and say,
“I made that”. There is something about the process of creating something useful with your
own hands and filling up the house with the mouth-watering smell of fresh bread!

NO KNEAD BREAD
No knead bread was first published in the New York Times about 10 years ago. Because
this bread requires no kneading, it became very popular. No knead bread is a method of
bread baking that uses a long fermentation (rising) time instead of kneading to form the
gluten strands that gives bread its texture. It has a low yeast content and a very wet,
formless dough. Essentially you mix everything up in a bowl, let it sit around for 24 hours to
let the yeast do its work, and bake it the next day. The ease of this process makes for a
popular bread making method.

WHAT IS A DUTCH OVEN?

Making bread in a Dutch oven is a great way to start making bread at home. Many home
bakers prefer to make their breads in Dutch ovens as they help form a great crust and a
beautiful round, artisan shape.
A Dutch oven is a heavy cooking pot with a tight fitting lid and thick walls that trap in
flavour. It is usually made with enameled cast iron but can also be bare cast iron or
ceramic. They are a great multi-use kitchen tool as they can go straight from the stove-top
into the oven. They are durable, retain heat, non-stick, and require no special cleaning
techniques.

EASY DUTCH OVEN NO KNEAD BREAD RECIPE

This uncomplicated recipe is made with only 4 ingredients and only takes 5 minutes for
prepping. This is the recipe for you if you want to easily make the delicious homemade
bread that looks like you bought from a bakery.

1. Mix together 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 5 tsp of sea salt, and 2 tsp of active dry
yeast.
2. Add ½ cup of water, no hotter than 105 degrees Fahrenheit or it could kill the yeast
and prevent bread from rising.

3. Mix the dough until a sticky ball forms. A dough whisk is useful here. The dough
should hold a ball shape, but it will be sticky to the touch, and not be smooth.

4. Cover the bowl tightly with a plastic wrap (sprayed with cooking spray). Place a
damp tea towel over the plastic wrap. Let it rest overnight, for at least 18 to 24 hours
in a banneton or an alternative. Make sure it is in a secure, warm place at room
temperature.

5. After 24 hours, preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Place a Dutch
oven with a lid into the oven while it is preheating.
 6. Transfer bread dough from the bowl on to a lightly floured counter. Form the dough
into a ball, adding a few tablespoons of flour, if needed. The dough will be loose and
seem floppy. It will not form a firm ball but will look a little flat. Cover it with a floured
towel until oven is preheated. Optionally, you can also score your bread dough
before popping it in the oven.

7. Carefully remove the hot Dutch oven from the oven. Remove the lid and spray the
entire dish and lid with cooking spray.

8. Gently and evenly place the dough ball in the Dutch oven.

9. Cover and bake for 30 minutes.

10. Remove the lid and bake for another 15 minutes, or until the loaf is a golden brown.

11. Once finished, remove the loaf from the Dutch oven and let it cool on a cooling rack
before slicing.

FINAL WORDS
If you like the idea of baking your own bread, but you are not quite sure if you are ready to
jump into the baking world, remember that is does not need to be an all or nothing situation.
You can bake as often as you want. Whip up a homemade loaf for special occasions such
as holidays or birthdays, or simply bake some bread on a rainy day.

But we are warning you now, fresh baked bread can be addictive! Once you get into the
habit of baking, you will most likely find that you will no longer be satisfied with store bought
bread. Even if you have a busy schedule, you may find yourself using up your spare time for
baking because you are craving your homemade bread!

Are you convinced? We hope so! We at Bear Country Kitchen have all your baking
needs covered, and we would love to see you get started. We offer various products to
help you during your bread making endeavors, including top quality tools for affordable
prices to ensure you can bring out the home chef in you! Shop our full store here.