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How can I get a softer crust on home baked bread?

(16 Posts)
teabagwoman Tue 18-Feb-25 16:01:47

I’ve started making my own bread again. I don’t have a bread maker,I just use my mixer and the oven. I want to teach my 10 year old gd how to do it but she doesn’t like a crisp crust. I’ve seen several suggestions on Google but in my experience Gnetters are a much more reliable source of advice.

Baggs Tue 18-Feb-25 16:06:51

Make rolls and do them in a cooler oven than most books say.

That works when I do it anyway. Even the little GSs ate the lot as there were no crusts 🙂

merlotgran Tue 18-Feb-25 16:08:55

As soon as you turn the bread out onto a cooling rack, cover it with a damp tea towel and let it steam until the crust softens.

teabagwoman Tue 18-Feb-25 18:33:52

When you say cooler Bags what temperature do you cook rolls at please?

Elegran Tue 18-Feb-25 18:52:52

You could store the bread in a large plastic bag with a zip top. That seems to soften the crust.

Norah Tue 18-Feb-25 19:13:00

We've some who prefer softer bread - cut the crusts off and freeze to save for something else (crumbs, bread puddings, the birds)?

Ilovedogs22 Tue 18-Feb-25 19:56:29

I was going to say the same thing as Merlotgran.
As soon as you take the loaf out of the oven, cover with a clean tea towel & the loaf will become lovely & soft on-top.
Ps, the tea-towel doesn't even have to be damp. The rising residual heat will do the trick. 😉

teabagwoman Tue 18-Feb-25 20:16:04

Thanks for your help ladies. I’ll try putting a teatowel over the loaf. Dgd is a bit of a fussy madam but I’d like her to make something she really enjoys.

charley68 Tue 18-Feb-25 20:38:37

I always wrap my bread in a teatowel as soon as it comes out oif the oven. I sometimes brushed melted butter on the bread before wrapping in the teatowel too.

jusnoneed Tue 18-Feb-25 22:43:47

Add some water into the oven when you bake the bread, a dish of water for example. It will give a softer crust.

Imarocker Wed 19-Feb-25 06:38:10

We always wrap the loaf in a tea towel when it comes out of the oven. It helps soften the crust.

shysal Wed 19-Feb-25 09:01:22

Throw a handful of ice cubes into a tray on the oven bottom. alternatively pour a jug of water into oven bottom tray. The steam keeps the crust moist.

Whitewavemark2 Wed 19-Feb-25 11:50:56

Milk.

Brush the top with milk.

For a really soft loaf make it with milk, or milk powder.

teabagwoman Sat 22-Feb-25 16:45:23

My dgd has just gone home proudly carrying her first loaf of bread. We put a roasting tin of water in the oven and wrapped the loaf in a teatowel when it came out of the oven. The crust was perfect. Thank you ladies.

Norah Sat 22-Feb-25 17:34:05

teabagwoman

My dgd has just gone home proudly carrying her first loaf of bread. We put a roasting tin of water in the oven and wrapped the loaf in a teatowel when it came out of the oven. The crust was perfect. Thank you ladies.

Well done you and her!

pascal30 Sat 22-Feb-25 18:22:56

teabagwoman

My dgd has just gone home proudly carrying her first loaf of bread. We put a roasting tin of water in the oven and wrapped the loaf in a teatowel when it came out of the oven. The crust was perfect. Thank you ladies.

wonderful.. you are teaching such important life skills