What is the Best Temperature for Rising Bread Dough?
Bread making has important steps that need to be followed, starting with how to get bread to rise, so you can get to bake the perfect loaf of bread every time. Nothing is better than a fresh loaf of bread made into a sandwich or as a side with dinner!
Scroll done to learn more about what the best temperature is for bread dough to rise in and more!
For a yeast dough to rise, you will want to have it in a warm place. This could mean in an oven with the oven lights on, on top of your counter or one of the best places in my opinion on top of a warm dishwasher.
The ideal temperature for rising dough is 80 degrees Fahrenheit or 26.67 degrees Celsius, so keep that in mind when choosing a spot to let your yeast bread rise. The rising time for dough in a cold house will take a long time compared to a warmer setting.
Rising Times for Bread Dough
The temperature of your dough will affect how long it takes for it to rise.
- 40 – 60 minutes in a warm environment, about 75 degrees – 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 90 – 120 minutes at room temperature, about 65 degrees – 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 12 – 24 hours in the refrigerator
Colder or lower temperatures will slow down the yeast activity in breads. You can use this knowledge to your advantage at those time, when you want to make bread but don’t have time to finish baking it.
Once you have your bread dough prepared and in a bowl, put the dough in the refrigerator. Cover the dough with plastic wrap to slow down the yeast growth.
When you are ready to make bread again, simply take the bowl of dough out of the refrigerator, since it will have risen give it a small punch or push it down. Next, sit it out at room temperature to continue the rising process, covered with a tea towel to begin the second rise.
So, if you use the refrigerator to make your dough rise, you will be waiting for up to a day for the bread to fully rise.
The speed of how fast the bread rising will affect how the bread tastes. The longer the bread dough takes to ferment, the better flavor the yeast will develop, which in turns makes for a great loaf of bread. So basically, a slower rise equals better tasting bread.
Common Questions about Bread Making
What is the Definition of Dough?
Dough is a thick, pliable mixture of liquid and flour that can be kneaded or shaped.
Can I Freeze Bread Dough?
Yes, bread dough can be frozen for up to a month. Make the dough but do NOT let it rise. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and freeze immediately. When you are ready to use it, unwrap and place into a greased bowl to let rise.
How to Tell When Bread Dough has Fully Risen
Bread dough has finished rising when it has doubled in size. To make sure the dough has had a perfect rise, you can lightly poke it with one or two fingers and the holes will remain in the surface of the dough.
Can I Use Salt in my Bread Dough?
You can use salt to flavor bread but keep in mind that it will slow down fermentation. In some cases such as areas with warmer temperatures’ dough tends to rise faster so to slow it down you can add some salt to the dough
Do I have to Proof Yeast for Dough?
While you used to have to proof yeast which is mixing it with warm water and letting it sit for 10 minutes until it has foamed, it is no longer a recommended step in most recipes. Proofing yeast lets you know if the yeast you are using is still active.
Bread Recipes
There are many types of bread you can make. Below are a few of my favorite bread recipes you can take a look-out if you are searching for new bread to bake.
- Sourdough Bread: This type of bread uses typically uses an active sourdough starter. You can make your own starter by following along with this tutorial on how to make a perfect sourdough starter.
- The Best Pizza Dough Recipe: Follow along with this simple tutorial to learn how to make your homemade pizza dough.
