American Sandwich White Loaf Midwest Recipes

EASY WHITE SANDWICH LOAF

Steps:

• For sandwich loaf tin: 807g strong white flour 11g instant yeast 16g salt 565ml water
• You will need: 2 x large mixing bowls, Digital weighing scales, Cling film, Spatula or wooden spoon, Sunflower oil for greasing tin, Olive oil for greasing mixing bowls, Rolling pin, Jug to measure water, Dough scraper, Dough lame, Loaf tin, Tin for putting water into to create steam, And plastic spray bottle (optional)
• A very important point regarding loaf tins, a lot of tins say they are 2lb, but actually aren't and this can lead to the dough collapsing because it isn't properly supported or the dough's oven spring going over the sides because the tin is too low. The best way to work out the size of your tin is to put it empty on weighing scales, fill it with water to the top and work out how many ml there are for example 1300ml is 1300g. You want a dough that is 60% volume of the tin for white flour or 70% for wholegrain of the tins volume for a loaf that will fill the tin well. So based on the 1300ml we would need a white dough that is 780 (to work this out I divided 1300 by 100 x 60 to work out 60 percent which gave me 780, this is weight of the dough before baking). The best tin in my opinion is an 800g sandwich loaf tin (23cm long, 12cm wide and 12cm tall) which needs more than 800g of dough, so don't be confused by tin size labels. To adjust recipes to suit tin volumes, here is a website with a dough converter: http://bakerybits.co.uk/dough-calculator-bakerybits
• Measure out the flour, and put yeast and salt on opposite sides of the bowl. A good way to measure water is on the weighing scales using a jug as 1ml of water weights the same as 1g so 350ml is 350g. Make a well in the middle add the water a bit at a time, using a spatula or a spoon continuing mixing until all water has been added. You will notice that it becomes difficult to mix the dough with just the spatula, so use your hands instead to fold the dough over on itself inside the bowl until it feels firm and comes together.
• Lightly flour the work surface and knead the dough for 10 minutes, use a bit more flour if you need to, a dough scraper is very useful at this stage. Divide the dough into two and oil 2 mixing bowls with olive oil, put each ball into 2 separate glass bowls, the bowls should be big enough to allow the dough to at least double in size. Move the balls around so they are covered in the oil. Cover with Clingfilm and leave for a 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• Just before 1 hour and 30 minutes is up, turn on the oven to 220 conventional, 200 fan and Gas mark 7, make sure the shelves are arranged so a tin can fit in and the dough has enough room to rise 2-3 inches above the top of the tin, also you need to be able to have a empty tin (I use a 20cm or 8 inch sandwich cake tin) which will be later filled with boiling water to create steam. I have two shelves, one right at the bottom for the empty tin and one on the next level where the loaf tin will go. To test if your dough has risen, use to wet fingers to gently press about 1 inch into and poke two holes into the dough, if the holes stay then the dough has risen enough as it doesn't have any more energy to fill the holes, if it fills in then it needs more time, so keep checking and testing every 5 minutes. If the holes collapse then it has over risen, no need to panic as we just take time off the proofing time. For example if it has over risen by 10 minutes, we reduce time that the dough proofs in tin by 10 minutes and put it into the oven.
• Next, lightly flour the work surface, make sure you have lightly oiled the tin with sunflower oil (not olive or vegetable as they vaporize) and you have a rolling pin. Punch both dough's down removing the air, join both together and knead for 30-60 seconds. Then fold the edges of the dough into the centre, moving the dough round as you do, you should end up with a tight ball; this creates tension on the surface of the loaf and helps give the loaf structure. Place the ball on the work surface and using both hands slightly underneath, continue until all the dough is rolled up and sealed. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out to a large rectangle, the width should be no wider than the tin. When you have done this, start with one end and fold over the dough about a good inch or two from the bottom, using the heel of your hand press firmly on the seal, roll the roll of dough forward and seal again, remember to press firmly as you do. Keep going until all the dough has been rolled and sealed, put the dough into the tin with the seal at the bottom and gently flatten the dough roll in the tin. This video will help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wx5I5O_RoeI
• Cover the tin with a tea towel and leave to rise for 30-35 minutes, less if it has over risen. Fill the empty tin that is in the oven with hot/warm water. You can also use the spray bottle to create more steam. To check if the dough has proven enough using your small finger gently poke the dough in the corner, if it fills back then it needs another 5 minutes and then check again in another corner, if it doesn't fill back in then it is ready for the oven. Use a dough lame to score the bread before going into the oven. This controls the oven spring and stood the crust from tearing open. You can cut straight down the middle or a few diagonal cuts across the width of the dough.
• The oven should be at the right temperature, steamy and ready for the tin. You can sprinkle water on top and dust with flour and gently rub to give a stone baked affect, you can also spray (using a plastic spray bottle) the top of the dough as this will keep the crust softer for longer and allow for more oven spring. You can also spray the oven before and after the loaf goes into the oven but once the oven door is closed do not open the door for the first 5-10 minutes as this is when the oven spring happens and the crust forms. I would also recommend that you slash the top of the dough with a very sharp serrated knife or dough lame, you can do a long vertical slash all the way down the middle of the loaf, but my personal favorite is 3-4 equally spaced diagonal cuts, make sure that they are quite deep.
• Bake at 220 conventional, 200 fan and Gas mark 7 for 20 minutes, remembering to turn the loaf every 10 minutes for an even bake. Turn down to 200 conventional, 180 fan and gas mark 5-6, for 35 minutes, then remove from the loaf from the tin and put back on the shelf for 5 minutes, the loaf if ready when removed from the tin it sounds hollow like a drum. For extra crispiness, you can remove the loaf from the tin and place back in the oven for a further 5 minutes. Let the loaf cool down on a wire rack.

WHITE BREAD SANDWICH LOAF

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine the milk, butter, and the sugar. Place over medium-high heat and cook, stirring, until the butter has melted. Remove from the heat and cool to about 110 degrees F. Sprinkle the yeast over the surface of the milk. Set aside until foamy, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt and set aside.
• Pour the milk and yeast mixture into the bowl of flour and mix until a soft, ragged mixture is formed. Transfer the flour mixture to a well-floured work surface and knead until a soft elastic dough is formed, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a kitchen towel, and place in a warm spot in the kitchen, until puffed and doubled in size, about 2 hours.
• Transfer the dough to the work surface and, using your hands, gently flatten into a 10-inch-long oval shape. Fold the dough into thirds lengthwise, overlapping the sides in the center. Press down on the overlapping side to seal and make a seam. Place seam side-down in a buttered 9x5 loaf pan, cover with a kitchen towel, and return to the warm spot until the dough has just risen about 1 1/2 inches over the top of the pan, about 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
• Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Brush the top of the dough lightly with warm water and, using a sharp knife, make 1/4-inch-deep slit down the center. Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes.
• Remove the loaf from the pan and place in the center of the rack. Continue baking until the loaf sounds hollow when rapt lightly with your knuckles, on the bottom and top, or an instant read thermometer inserted in the center registers about 190 degrees F., about 15 minutes.
• Transfer the bread loaf to a cooling rack and cool completely before slicing.

AMERICAN SANDWICH WHITE LOAF - MIDWEST

Steps:

• Mix 3 1/2 cups of the flour, the yeast, and salt together in a standing mixer fitted with the dough hook.
• With the mixer on low speed, add the milk mixture and mix until the dough comes together, about 1 minute.
• Increase speed to medium-low and knead until the dough is smmooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. (If after 5 minutes, more flour is needed, add the remaining 1/4 cup of flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough cleas the side of the bowl but sticks to the bottom.).
• Turn the dough onto a clean counter and knead by hand to form a smooth, round ball, aout 1 minute. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and wrap tightly with palctic wrap. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. **see variation for proofing instructions).
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured counter and gently press it into a 9-inch square. Roll the dough into a tight cylinder and pinch the seam closed. Place the loaf seam-side down in a 9-inch loaf pan, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place until it has nearly doubled in size and springs back slowl when indented with a finger, 1 1/2 hours.
• Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 350 degrees. Bring a kettle of water to boil. Gently brush the loaf with the remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Set the loaf pan on the oven rack and place an empty metal loaf pan next to it. Fill the empty pan about half full with the boiling water. Bake until golden and the center of the bread registers 200 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, 40-50 minutes. Flip the bread out onto a wire rack and let cool to room temperature before slicing, about 2 hours.

MIDWEST MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Gently mound the meat mixture into a metal 9x5 loaf pan. Top loaf with 4 strips of bacon. Bake for 1 hour and 10 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit for 15 minutes before slicing.

WHITE LOAF

Steps:

• Dissove the yeast in warm water.
• Stir in saslt, sugar and butter.
• Beat in the flour.
• Knead until dough is smooth and elastic.
• Cover with towel or plastic wrap and let rise until double (1 1/2-2 hours) Punch down.
• On a floured board shape it into a round loaf.
• Cover with a towel and let rise (45 minutes).
• Preheat oven to 400-degrees F.
• Pat the loaf down with hands.
• Using hands or rolling pin stretch it onto round flat sheet about 1/2 inch thick.
• Starting with one side roll it into a loaf.
• Place it seam side down on a lightly greased baking sheet.
• With a sharp knife, cut 1/2 inch slash from one end of loaf to the other.
• Bake in oven until browned and loaf is done about 25 minutes.
• Cool.

CLASSIC SANDWICH BREAD

Steps:

• Mixing:
• In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients and stir till the dough starts to leave the sides of the bowl.
• You may need up to 2/3 cup of hot water to make a soft, smooth dough.
• Transfer the dough to a lightly greased surface, oil your hands, and knead it for 6 to 8 minutes, or until it begins to become smooth and supple. (You may also knead this dough in an electric mixer or food processor, or in a bread machine set to the dough or manual cycle).
• Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover the bowl, and allow the dough to rise till puffy though not necessarily doubled in bulk, about 60 minutes, depending on the warmth of your kitchen.
• Shaping:
• Don't punch down the dough. Transfer it to a lightly oiled work surface, and gently shape it into an 8-inch log.
• Place the log in a lightly greased 8 1/2 x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan, cover the pan loosely with lightly greased plastic wrap, and allow the bread to rise for about 60 minutes, until it's domed about 1 inch above the edge of the pan.
• A finger pressed into the dough should leave a mark that rebounds slowly.
• Baking:
• Bake the bread in a preheated 350°F oven for about 35 minutes, until it's light golden brown.
• Test it for doneness by removing it from the pan and thumping it on the bottom (it should sound hollow), or by measuring its interior temperature with an instant-read thermometer (it should register 190°F at the center of the loaf).
• Remove the bread from the oven, and cool it on a wire rack before slicing.
• Store the bread in a plastic bag at room temperature.

CLASSIC WHITE LOAF

Steps:

• Make the dough by tipping the flour, yeast and salt into a large bowl and making a well in the middle. Pour in most of the water and use your fingers or a wooden spoon to mix the flour and water together until combined to a slightly wet, pillowy, workable dough - add a splash more water if necessary. Tip the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for at least 10 mins until smooth and elastic. This can also be done in a tabletop mixer with a dough hook. Place the dough in a clean oiled bowl, cover with cling film and leave to rise until doubled in size.
• Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Knock back the dough by tipping it back onto a floured surface and pushing the air out. Mould the dough into a rugby ball shape that will fit a 900g loaf tin and place in the tin. Cover with a clean tea towel and leave to prove for 30 mins. Dust the top of the loaf with a little more flour and slash the top with a sharp knife if you want. Bake the bread for 15 mins, then reduce the heat to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5 and continue to bake for 30 mins until the loaf sounds hollow when removed from the tin and tapped on the base. Leave the bread on a wire rack to cool completely. The loaf will stay fresh in an airtight container for 3 days or can be frozen for 1 month.