UW Extension

Many people love the idea of warm, fresh bread but never try baking it because it seems time-consuming or complicated. Here are key tips that walk you through the steps and yield a fragrant loaf of bread.

Yeast is a living organism. It needs food and moisture to thrive. Yeast feeds on sugars and starches in the dough. When it grows, it produces carbon dioxide that is responsible for stretching and expanding the dough as it rises.

Dry yeast is dormant and can be stored unopened at room temperature. Once the package is opened, the yeast must be refrigerated or frozen in an airtight container. It...