A quick rise: Mastering yeast dough

Yeast dough is one of those classic baked goods that often appear on the tables. It's used to make fluffy rolls, cakes, challahs, or fruit pies. While preparing this type of dough is not difficult, it does require time. What can be done to make yeast dough rise faster? You'll find some tips below.

What ingredients are needed for yeast dough?

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup warm milk
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 25 grams fresh yeast
• 1 egg
• 50 grams butter
• A pinch of salt

How to prepare yeast dough? Once you have all the ingredients ready, it's time to combine them into a uniform mass. Start by crumbling the yeast into the warm milk, then add the sugar. Let the mixture rest for a moment until you see bubbles forming, which indicates the yeast's activity.

In a large bowl, place the sifted flour, add salt, and then incorporate the prepared yeast mixture. Knead the dough patiently by hand or with a mixer on a low setting, gradually adding the melted butter. Kneading should last a few minutes until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.

Once the dough is ready, transfer it to an oiled bowl and cover it with a clean cloth. Leave it in a warm place to rise for 1 to 3 hours.

If you don't want to wait long for the dough to rise, or if the room temperature is low, making it difficult for the dough to rise, you can use a simple trick to help the dough quickly increase in volume. What should you do? Preheat the oven to 45 degrees Celsius and then turn it off. Place the bowl with the dough in the warmed oven. Remember to cover the bowl to prevent the dough from drying out.

Another method is to use warm water. How does it work? Place the kneaded yeast dough in a bag and seal it tightly, but do not wrap it too tightly as its volume will increase during rising. Submerge the wrapped dough in a bowl or pot filled with warm, but not hot, water — up to a temperature of 35 degrees Celsius. After about 40 minutes the dough should have nicely risen. When using this method, also ensure the bag or wrap is well-sealed to prevent water from seeping in.

While preparing yeast dough, there are a few common mistakes to avoid that can negatively affect the final result. First and foremost, ensure the milk temperature is appropriate — too cold will slow down fermentation, and too hot can kill the yeast. It is also crucial to use fresh yeast and to thoroughly knead the dough to develop the gluten structure, ensuring the dough's elasticity. Too short a rising time results in dense and heavy baked goods, whereas inaccurately measuring flour can make the dough hard and dry or too soft. Adhering to these principles will help you achieve light and fluffy yeast dough.