Baking bread at home has been a game-changer for my family. I’m not a professional baker, but I’ve gained confidence and learned a lot after six months of baking sandwich bread twice weekly. Now, we only eat homemade bread—and we wouldn’t have it any other way!
If you’re thinking about baking your bread, here are 10 things I’ve learned to help you get started. Plus, I’ll share my favorite baking tools at the end!
1. Bread Flour Makes a Difference
Switching to bread flour made my loaves softer, fluffier, and more enjoyable. While all-purpose flour works, bread flour has a higher protein content, which helps with structure and texture.
2. Try More Than One Recipe
You might think you’ve found the perfect bread recipe—but try one more just to be sure! Testing different recipes helped me find the one that best suits my taste and baking style.
3. Weighing Ingredients Is a Game-Changer
Once I started using a kitchen scale, my bread went from a 6 to a 10. Measuring ingredients by weight (instead of cups) ensures accuracy and consistency, which makes a huge difference in baking.
4. Mistakes Are Part of the Process
Not every loaf will turn out perfect, and that’s okay! It’s okay if you don’t love the taste of your first few batches. I recommend keeping a spare loaf of store-bought bread in the freezer—just in case.
5. It Won’t Last (In a Good Way!)
Homemade bread is so delicious that your family will devour it quickly. Because it’s made without preservatives and spoils faster than store-bought bread, plan to bake fresh loaves regularly!
6. King Arthur Flour Is Top-Notch
King Arthur flour is the best. It’s the only brand I buy because of its consistent quality and baking performance.
7. You’ll Gain Confidence to Try New Recipes
Once I mastered sandwich bread, I felt comfortable experimenting. So far, I’ve made white bread, wheat bread, and even tortillas!
8. Use Your Resources
Baking bread doesn’t have to be stressful. There are plenty of free resources available, including:
• Social media (tons of bakers share tips and recipes)
• AI tools like ChatGPT or Google Gemini
• Facebook groups and online forums
• Cookbooks (my favorite is Baking School by King Arthur Baking)
9. You Don’t Need Fancy Equipment
You don’t need a bread machine or expensive tools to make great bread. A mixing bowl, measuring tools, and an oven are enough to get started.
10. Buy Ingredients in Bulk
If you’re committed to baking bread, purchasing ingredients in bulk will save you money in the long run. Look for large bags of flour, yeast, and other essentials to stock up.
Final Thoughts
Baking homemade bread is rewarding, fun, and totally worth it! If you’re new to it, be patient with yourself and enjoy the process.
Want to get started? Check out my favorite bread-baking tools here: My baking tools and recipes.
Let me know in the comments—have you started baking your own bread? What’s your favorite recipe?
