Bread and Bread Kits

I have posted this recipe before with a brief look into bread kits. I've received numerous emails and comment requests to revisit the how-to's of bread kits. I will be making kits later today and will attempt to take good pictures. My own personal photographer lives 1000 miles away.

Making bread kits saves lots of time if you make your own homemade bread anyway or are planning to start. Once you have secured a good recipe that your family will eat then all you need is the know how. Measuring out everything all at one time and then washing the measuring cups and spoons just the one time per 18-24 loaves of bread saves me a lot of time.

My Mom created this whole wheat bread recipe. I recommend using white wheat flour instead of red wheat flour-- not to be confused with white flour (which is refined).

1 1/3 C. very warm water
1-3 T. Canola oil
3 1/3 C. whole wheat flour or 2 1/3 C. whole wheat flour + 1 C. oat flour
1-4 T. non-fat dry milk (more = finer texture)
1/3 C. granulated sugar or ¼ C. honey
2 tsp. dough enhancer
3 T. gluten
1-1 ½ tsp. salt
1 T. yeast (if baking in oven) or 1 ½ - 2 tsp. yeast for baking in bread machine

Add all ingredients to bread machine in the order given.Set on whole wheat bread and press start if baking in bread machine.

1. Add all ingredients to bread machine in the order given.

2. When baking in oven but using bread machine for kneading, set bread machine on dough only.

3. Spray or grease bread pan.

4. When bread machine is done, take dough out, punch down and form loaf in bread pan.

5. Cover and let rise in bread pan about 30 minutes. I like to cover with plastic wrap that has been sprayed with canola oil so it doesn't stick.

6. Cook for about 30 minutes in preheated 350 degree oven.

To make bread kits...

The containers: I prefer using Ziploc 1-quart containers. They are square and stack very nicely. If I'm desperate and don't have enough Ziploc containers available when making kits, I use quart jars. The Ziploc containers are much easier to fill. If you use jars, a canning funnel helps assembly easier. Wide mouth and regular mouth jars both fit all the ingredients. Use what you have. Zippered freezer bags are trickier because they don't like to seal if you have flour on the seal.

The ingredients: Make sure you have calculated how much of each ingredient you will need especially when making several at a time. You don't need to calculated the oil and water since only dry ingredients go in the kits.

Instructions: Put all dry ingredients in container. Label if desired. Store in freezer or sub-zero garage. hahaha I used to label mine, but I don't anymore. I go through so many and I can tell by looking at it exactly what it is. I don't currently have any other powdered "kits" in my freezer. And I'm all about efficiency. So taking the time to make labels for 18-24 bread kits each time I make kits is not worth it to me. I make lots of kits if I have space and containers for them.

Using a bread kit for baking:

Bring bread kit to room temperature. Place water and oil in bread machine and add the bread kit. Continue as above.

Any questions? Just leave them in the comments and I'll get back to you.