The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Brand New Baby Baker

RogerDuke's picture
RogerDuke

Brand New Baby Baker

Hello, I am new to baking and I have had some failure thus far in baking bread. I have made my starter but some of the recipes I have tried have not been very encouraging to me as a baker. I'd like to keep going but wondering about which recipe I should try. 

David R's picture
David R

What kind of bread do you wish you could make better? If you have a favourite type of bread, maybe people can more easily turn you in the right direction. For example, if a lot of people recommend white-bread recipes but all along you've been dreaming of rye, that could be frustrating for everyone.

Even if your ideal is "too difficult for a beginner", it might help to focus the answers a bit.

Colin2's picture
Colin2

This is a tried and true starting point: http://www.thefreshloaf.com/lessons/yourfirstloaf

Even if you are aiming for natural leavens (which are great!) there's something to be said for mastering a simple straight dough with commercial yeast before moving on to more complex leavening.

RogerDuke's picture
RogerDuke

Thank you for your responses. They were both helpful. I purchased bread flour and whole wheat flour. I was aiming for the "Artisan" bread with a starter but I will try the recipe that Colin is recommending. It is overwhelming and so many choices. I appreciate your suggestions. 

 

David R's picture
David R

From your response, it sounds as if you mainly want to make good bread, and are not really aiming (today anyway ?) for some exotic or tricky style. I totally agree with the suggestion you already received.

BethJ's picture
BethJ

@Colin2:  That link is not working for me?

susies1955's picture
susies1955

Look for "your first loaf" in the search bar at the top.

BethJ's picture
BethJ
Colin2's picture
Colin2

thanks!  fixed.

RogerDuke's picture
RogerDuke

Thank you all for your help. Yes, I was able to find it. 

Filomatic's picture
Filomatic

It's really useful to get a comprehensive book that teaches you the whole process.  Hamelman's Bread is the best one for doing that.  It's the rare book that works well for beginners through professionals.

RogerDuke's picture
RogerDuke

Thank you for all of your help and suggestions. It is comforting to know that I have a community of helpers since not very many of my friends bake bread. 

 

sasha.river's picture
sasha.river

Hi, I'm a new guy here. Maybe you can try to bake the most simplest kind of bread. You're on the right track with all the suggestion you got from all the people here.