Expert: Robert Connolly - 10/12/2008

Question
"I recently baked a loaf of 100% whole wheat (flour) bread in my bread machine. My husband said it was too dry, I think it's too dense. Can I make a change to the bread making machine recipe? HELP?

Thank you."


Answer
teresa,it is not realistic to try and make 100% whole wheat flour bread,it lacks the properties that make desirable palatable bread,in any whole wheat bread recepie there must be some high gluten flour to add elasticity and texture,it can be stone ground or unbleached if you want a heathier result but here is what i do,i follow a basic bread recepie except i add 1/3 whole wheat flour in place of whatever the recepie calls for,you can replace the sugar with honey,the salt with sea salt,you see whrere i'm going? now you have just been a pioneer not an average home baker,i want to show you that it is no big deal if you just think outside the box,it builds your confidence and opens up something different.so in review,we are replacing 1/3 of the bread flour in a white bread recepie with whole wheat flour,maybe the sugar with honey,the shortening with something healthier and trans fat free for example,as long as the weights and volumes ars the same,it should come out just fine.be confident and have fun! good luck,bob connolly,www.millsbakery.com