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BAKING, TIPS AND TOOLS

Tips and Tools for Homemade Bread

Lehman's
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New to breadmaking? Or maybe looking to improve your process? You're in good company. There are loaves of reasons for making your own bread:

The taste
The control of ingredients
The joy of becoming more self-sufficient

Whatever your reason may be, we want to help you on your breadmaking journey, and ideally, make the process a little simpler (and more delicious!). Here are our tips and tools for homemade bread:

#1 – Make your own flour.

Use a grain mill to grind your own grain. Freshly milled flour enhances flavor and texture, giving your homemade bread a truly unique taste. (And of course, the freshest ingredients make the best food!) Best Mill for Flour: Diamant Grain Mill [caption id="attachment_29060" align="aligncenter" width="700"]

Diamant Hand-Cranked Grain Mill for Flour

The European-made Diamant Grain Mill is the finest one we've ever sold. A lifetime investment - and beyond! Available at Lehmans.com[/caption] USA-Made Mill: Country Living Mill [caption id="attachment_39489" align="aligncenter" width="700"]

The USA-Made Country Living Grain Mill gives you premium grinding ability at a mid-range price. Available at Lehmans.com[/caption] Compare all our grain mills here.

#2 – Keep prep work simple.

Have you heard of the expression "you're only as good as your tools"? This applies to breadmaking as well. From mixing dough to baking your loaf, you can simplify the process when you equip your kitchen with the proper tools. Easiest Way to Bake Bread: West Bend Electric Hi-Rise Bread Maker Machine [caption id="attachment_39490" align="aligncenter" width="700"]

West Bend Electric Hi-Rise Bread Maker Machine

This convenient automatic bread maker machine features 12 programmable settings that make bread making easy and simple. Available at Lehmans.com[/caption] Best Hand Tool for Mixing Dough: Old Country Dough Whisk [caption id="attachment_39491" align="aligncenter" width="700"]

These whisks are designed with just two spiral wires, so ingredients pass through easily for better, quicker mixing and less clumping. Available at Lehmans.com[/caption] Best Bread Oven: Dominion Bread Baker [caption id="attachment_39485" align="aligncenter" width="633"]

Dominion Bread Baker (also known as a bread oven or cloche) helps create the steam that's needed for crunchy, chewy crusts while bread stays soft. Available at Lehmans.com[/caption]

#3 – Slice it with ease.

Regular knives tend to squish bread. Try using a specially designed blade for no-hassle slicing. Bonus: Your slices will look great, too! Best Manual Slicer: Zassenhaus Bread Slicer with Easy Hand Crank [caption id="attachment_39488" align="aligncenter" width="700"]

Zassenhaus Bread Slicer for Homemade Bread

Boasting a high-quality stainless steel blade made in Germany, it cuts perfectly uniform slices quickly, efficiently and without crushing your loaf. Available at Lehmans.com[/caption] USA-Made Slicer Knives: Bread and Bagel Slicer [caption id="attachment_39492" align="aligncenter" width="700"]

Made in the USA, this bread and bagel bow knife features an ultra-thin, serrated blade that glides through bread. Available at Lehmans.com[/caption] Case Bread Slicer [caption id="attachment_39493" align="aligncenter" width="700"]

The special high carbon steel helps the blade hold an edge longer than conventional steel. Available at Lehmans.com[/caption] Shop all our breadmaking supplies here.

Did you make this recipe?Share a photo and tag us — we can't wait to see what you've made!