Breads & Doughs

When baking with instant yeast, you do not need to proof the yeast. Instant yeast can be directly added to the dry ingredients.

When baking with active dry yeast, you will need to proof the yeast with warm water and sugar (follow manufacturer's instructions).

For further reading: What's the Difference Between Instant, Active, and Fast-Acting Dry Yeasts?

The windowpane test is one of the best ways to tell if you’ve sufficiently kneaded your bread dough. If you can stretch the dough without it breaking, that means the gluten is well-developed and your dough is ready to rise.

The Windowpane Test: Take a small ball of the dough and stretch it into a square. Keep on stretching until it becomes a thin film in the middle without breaking. The dough must be thin enough to pass light through it. If it is obtained without any tear, then your dough is properly kneaded.