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What to Do With Bread Dough That Didn’t Rise

What to Do With Bread Dough That Didn’t Rise?

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Last Updated on December 1, 2022 by Lauren Beck

Have you ever experienced the frustration of putting your bread dough in to rise, only for it not to do what it’s supposed to? It can be disheartening and cause you to wonder what went wrong. But don’t worry; there are still plenty of ways to salvage that dough and end up with delicious baked goods.

In this article, we’ll discuss what could be causing your dough not to rise and what you can do about it.

Ways to Do With Bread Dough That Didn’t Rise

  1. Check the yeast: Did you use active dry or instant yeast? If you’re using active dry yeast, make sure it wasn’t expired. If it was old and clumpy, it may not have been able to do its job properly.
  2. Check the temperature of your ingredients: Yeast is a living organism and needs specific temperatures in order to activate. If your ingredients were too hot or cold, the yeast may not have been able to do its job.
  3. Make sure you’re following the recipe: Recipes usually include exact measurements for flour, water, salt, etc., so make sure you’re following those instructions carefully.
  4. Knead the dough for longer: If you didn’t knead the dough long enough, it may not have had a chance to develop gluten properly and therefore not rise.
  5. Make rolls or buns instead: If your dough is still salvageable (not too dense or dry), shape it into small rolls or buns and bake as you normally would.
  6. Make flatbread or pizza: If your dough is too dense to shape, make it into a flatbread or pizza crust instead.
  7. Use the dough for other purposes: You can use the dough for things like pretzels or even dumplings in soup!

With these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to make something delicious with what started as a seemingly failed bread-making effort.

Reasons Why Bread Didn’t Rise

Here are some of the most common reasons why bread didn’t rise:

  • Old yeast: If your yeast is too old, it won’t be able to activate and do what it needs to do.
  • Not kneaded long enough: Kneading is an important step in making bread as it helps develop gluten which gives the dough structure and helps it rise.
  • Too little or too much liquid: If you didn’t use the right ratio of liquid to flour, your dough won’t be able to properly activate and rise.
  • Temperature of ingredients: As mentioned before, yeast needs specific temperatures in order to activate, so if your ingredients were too hot or cold, the yeast won’t be able to do its job.

How to Make Flatbreads With Unrisen Dough?

If your dough is too dense to shape into rolls, you can still make delicious flatbreads with it. Here’s what you need to do:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Flatten the dough and place on a lightly greased baking sheet.
  3. Add toppings of your choice.
  4. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.
  5. Enjoy!

What Happens if My Bread Dough Doesn’t Rise?

If your bread dough doesn’t rise, the bread won’t have the same texture as what you’d expect from a regular loaf of bread. It will likely be more dense and not as fluffy. You can still salvage it by making flatbreads, rolls, or buns instead though! Just make sure to check what could be causing your dough not to rise and take steps to correct it before baking.

Can You Let Dough Rise Twice?

freshly baked bread

Yes, you can let bread dough rise twice. This is called “retarding” and it helps to improve the flavor of your bread as well as its texture. Just be sure to punch down the dough between each rise so that the yeast doesn’t become overactive.

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Can I Add Yeast After Kneading?

Yes, you can add yeast after kneading. This is called “proofing” [1] and it helps to improve the flavor of your bread as well as its texture. Just keep in mind that the dough won’t rise until it has had time to proof (usually 1-2 hours).

Can Over Kneading Cause Dough Not to Rise?

Yes, over kneading can cause dough not to rise. Kneading helps to develop gluten which gives the dough structure and helps it rise. If you knead it too much, the gluten will break down and your dough won’t be able to rise properly.

How Long on Average Does It Take for Dough to Rise Completely?

It usually takes around 2 hours for dough to rise completely. This can vary depending on temperature and humidity levels, as well as what kind of yeast you’re using. If the dough hasn’t doubled in size after two hours, let it sit for a bit longer.

Conclusion

Making bread can be a tricky process and sometimes even after everything is done right, it won’t rise. If your bread dough didn’t rise, don’t worry! There are still ways to salvage it and make something delicious out of what started as a seemingly failed effort. From rolls, buns, flatbreads, pizza crusts and more, you can still make something delicious with what started as a seemingly failed bread-making effort. The most important thing is to troubleshoot what could have caused the dough not to rise in order to prevent it from happening again! Good luck and happy baking!

Reference:

  1. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/baking-101-what-is-proofing-learn-how-to-proof-breads-and-other-baked-goods
Lauren Beck
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