Before baking the bread you need to let the dough rise. The wait can take hours, so if you're in a hurry you need to find a way to speed up the process. Luckily for you there are several tricks that allow you to make the dough rise faster, for example you can put it in the microwave or cover it with a damp cloth. By taking advantage of the humidity and heat to speed up the leavening process, you will be able to serve good hot bread in a short time.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Use a Damp Kitchen Cloth
Step 1. Turn on the oven by setting it to the temperature you need to bake the bread
Generally bread should be baked at a temperature between 175 and 240 ° C. To get the best result, follow the directions provided by the recipe.
Step 2. Wet a kitchen towel with warm water
It should be completely wet, but not soaked. If necessary, squeeze it over the sink to prevent the water from dripping and wetting the dough.
Step 3. Cover the bowl where the dough rests with the damp cloth
Wrap the ends around the bowl making sure it is completely covered. The moisture released by the cloth will cause the dough to rise faster.
If the bowl is very large, you can use two partially overlapping damp tea towels
Step 4. Place the bowl next to the oven, but not on top
Place it on the work surface next to the oven, so that the heat released makes the bread dough rise more quickly.
Step 5. Let the dough rise until it has doubled in volume
Check it after half an hour to see if the leavening is complete. If it hasn't reached the size indicated, quickly cover the bowl with the damp cloth and check again after 10-15 minutes.
Method 2 of 4: Using the Microwave Oven
Step 1. Pour 250ml of water into a glass beaker
Before filling it, make sure it can be used in the microwave.
Step 2. Microwave the water on full power for 2 minutes
Then move the glass to one side of the oven to make room for the bowl with the dough. Wear oven mitts or protect your hands with a cloth so you don't get burned by touching the hot glass.
Step 3. Transfer the dough to a bowl
Choose one that fits the size of your microwave oven. It does not need to be made of a material suitable for microwave use because you will not have to turn it on.
Step 4. Place the bowl in the microwave and close the door
Place it next to the glass with the boiling water. Inside the oven a warm and humid environment will be created which will favor a faster leavening of the dough. Do not turn on the microwave.
Step 5. Let the dough rise for about 30-45 minutes
Check it after half an hour to see if the leavening process is over. Make sure it's doubled in volume. If not, leave it in the microwave for another 15 minutes.
Step 6. Heat the water in the glass if the dough has not yet risen completely
If the volume has not doubled after 45 minutes, remove the tureen from the oven and reheat the water in the glass at maximum power for 2 minutes. Then put the bowl back in the oven and let the dough rise for another 10-15 minutes.
Method 3 of 4: Using the Traditional Oven
Step 1. Preheat the oven
Set it to the lowest temperature available and let it heat for 2 minutes. Start the timer so you don't forget to turn it off. While the oven heats up, fill a pot of water and put it to boil on the stove. When 2 minutes have passed, turn off the oven.
Step 2. Pour the boiling water into a heat-resistant glass bowl
Use a medium-large bowl and fill it with water up to 3 to 5 cm from the edge.
Step 3. Place the bowl of boiling water in the oven
Quickly close the door and let the moisture spread into the oven as you prepare the bread dough. The heat of the oven added to that given off by the boiling water will create a perfect environment for leavening.
Step 4. Place the dough on a baking sheet and place it in the oven
Close the door so as not to disperse the heat.
Step 5. Let the dough rise in the oven until its volume has doubled
Check it after 15 minutes to see if it's ready. If not, let it rise again in the oven and check again after another quarter of an hour.
Method 4 of 4: Using Instant Yeast
Step 1. Buy instant yeast
The instant yeast has been developed precisely to allow you to prepare bread, pizzas and focaccia very quickly. Its tiny granules dissolve and activate faster than normal ones. You can find it in any supermarket.
Step 2. Add the instant yeast to the other dry ingredients
Unlike the classic one, instant yeast generally does not need to be dissolved in water. Simply mix it with the flour and other dry ingredients provided by the recipe. Use the indicated amount of yeast.
Step 3. Skip the first step of leavening and shape the loaves immediately after kneading the dough
If the recipe indicates to let it rise twice, the first in the tureen and the second in the pan after giving it the desired shape, go straight to the second phase. When using instant yeast, letting the dough rise in the bowl is superfluous. Shape the loaves as soon as you are done kneading, to cut the waiting time in half.
Step 4. Let the bread rise in the pan before putting it in the oven
Keep it in a warm, humid place to speed up the process. Keep in mind that a dough that contains only water and flour rises much faster than one to which eggs, salt, milk and fat have also been added.
