Bread is one of the oldest methods and evidence of prepared foods in human history. Civilizations in the Middle East that date back as far as 12,000 years were preparing wheat and barley-based breads. While modern breads have come a long way from their primitive, unleavened origins, many of the ingredients still remain the same.
Flour, salt, water and fat are the main staples for most bread recipes. It truly feels like magic as you watch a lumpy ball of dough begin to rise with life on your kitchen counter. Along with simple ingredients, bread really only requires simple tools. Two of them you probably already have, your left and right hand!
Granted, the tools you need to make bread will vary depending on the method you choose to prepare your loaf. I have compiled a list of supplies you may need to have on hand to complete the #makebread365 challenge. If you are a beginner baker, do not get overwhelmed by this list or feel you need to buy a ton of supplies. Just like I mentioned in the Welcome to the #makebread365 Challenge Blog Post, start where you are with what you have.
Simple Bread Making Supplies:
Mixing bowl
You will need some sort of large bowl to mix your dough in. A few years ago I bought a three pack of stainless steel bowls at SAMs club and they seem to be my “go to bowls”. This set of bowls is nice because they come with lids you can throw over them while your bread proofs.
Baking pan
Baking pans will come in various sizes and will be made out of different materials. Standard sizes are either 8.5 x 4.5 or 9×5. It is important to note that even though the sizes are close, 9 x 5 pan does hold 15% more dough than an 8.5x 9 x 5 and you will get different results on the rise. If you are a new baker, try to stick to what the recipe calls for.
Other pans can be sized as a 1 lb or 2 lb loaf pan. This means the pan will hold 1 lb of dough or about 4 cups of batter. Additional sizes are as follows, 1.2 lbs or 1.5 lb pan. If a recipe makes a 2 lb loaf and all you have is one 1 lb pan, just portion out the dough into 1 lb each.
As far as pan make up you will find all sorts, glass, ceramic, stone, aluminum and cast iron. Pick what fits your values and your budget. If you don’t have much to spend, see if you can borrow one from your grandma! Chances are she has a ton of pans in her garage or basement. *Wink* Two of my most favorite pampered chef pans were gifted to me from a friend.
Mixer
If you choose not to knead by hand then consider a mixer. Like bread pans, there are many different types of mixers on the market! A commonly used mixer is a kitchen aid stand mixer. If you have one then use it! If you are in the market for a mixer, I would actually recommend a Bosch mixer over a Kitchen Aid mixer. While a Bosch is a little bit more expensive, it has more power and can handle stiff bread doughs better than a kitchen aid. Another gorgeous mixer on the market is an Ankarsrum.
Again, if a brand new mixer is not in the budget don’t discourage you. Try looking on craigslist, Facebook marketplace and even thrift stores for an older model mixer for a more affordable price.
While this is not a comprehensive list of all the tools you might require over the course of the year during the #makebread365 challenge, this is a simple list to get you started for the month of January.
There have already been over three thousand free Make Bread 365 planners sent out in less than a week and my Instagram inbox is being flooded with photos of delicious loaves of bread.
It makes my heart sing to see all of you giving it a try. Remember this year, no one asked you to be perfect, you just have to try!
7 Responses
So excited to do this with you.
This is great info! Are you sharing recipes for the bread challenge? I signed up and am a little confused. I don’t get on Instagram much, so I’m glad I signed up for your emails. Anyway, if you have the time to point me in the right direction to find great recipes I would appreciate it! Thank you!
Hi Hilary!
I posted another blog post for January #makebread365 Challenge. There are various recipes in there that I have recommended, but you are more than welcome use any recipe you find. This is the link to the blog post I am referring to, https://littlefarmfolk.com/2022/12/january-makebread365-challenge/
I do talk about the challenge on my Instagram stories, but everything you should need will be posted in my blogposts. I have 6 blog posts about bread making so far. I am hoping I can guide you through the #makebread365 challenge via email and blog posts!
Thank you!
Where do we get the recipe to make the bread this month? Do we just find our own
Hi Melinda!
I posted another blog post for January #makebread365 Challenge. There are various recipes in there that I have recommended, but you are more than welcome use any recipe you find. This is the link to the blog post I am referring to, https://littlefarmfolk.com/2022/12/january-makebread365-challenge/
Are you planning a post on how to go about using the Make Bread 365 planner? It may just be me, but I’m not clear on what to write wear and especially on the Bread Tracker page. I’m excited to follow along and learn some new baking skills while providing nutritious food for my family! Thank you for putting this together.
Hi! I am not planning to post anything on it. But they Bread Tracker Page is to document how many loaves you made and how quick you use them. Help you organize how often you have to make a certain type of bread