Serious question, my bread always ends up too dense

I baked a loaf of white bread using a recipe. It came out heavy and dense after kneading and rising. What can I do to make it lighter?

3 comments

3 Comments

noah_nelson291mo ago

Honestly, this reminds me of how trying too hard often makes things worse. You see it everywhere, like overwatering a plant or hovering over a slow computer. With bread, I've found that once the dough feels smooth, you just have to trust it and walk away. More fussing usually just makes a tough, sad brick.

max_webb421mo ago

Wait, "after kneading and rising" and it was still dense? (How long did you knead it for?) Over-kneading can actually make it tough.

umaf201mo ago

Yeah, I used to knead the heck out of my dough thinking more was better. One time I just stopped early on a whim and it was the lightest loaf I ever made. Makes you wonder, right?