Why do We Need to Knead?

Bread dough needs to be elastic in order to capture the gases created by the yeast, stretch as bubbles form in the dough, expand, and rise. Without that elasticity, bread would not have the open texture we enjoy nor would bread be chewy. But what creates that elasticity?

The endosperm of the wheat contains two important proteins, glutenin and gliadin. When wheat flour is mixed with water, these two proteins link with the water molecules and crosslink with each other as they are physically manipulated by kneading. It takes a certain amount of physical manipulation to bring these molecules into contact and create strong links. As the kneading continues and these molecules create stronger bonds, gluten is formed. It is gluten that gives the dough elasticity.

If you watch the dough being mixed with the bread hook in your stationary mixer, you will see changes occur in the dough as the kneading takes place. First the dough will stick to the sides of the bowl. As the bonds become stronger and the dough more elastic, it pulls away from the sides into a drier ball. The sides should become clean. Within four or five minutes at medium speed, the dough will change even more and become elastic as the gluten is completely formed. After you have watched this process a few times, you will be able to recognize the changes in the dough as the gluten forms. If you pinch a portion of the dough and stretch it, it should pull to a thin layer before it breaks. Without that elasticity, bread isn't good bread.

For more articles like this visit The Bakers' Library.

© 2004 The Prepared Pantry

In The News:
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.brewtonstandard.com/articles/2008/11/30/lifestyles/life04.txtcid=0ei=9kg1SfjrJ6GO6APuucTfDAusg=AFQjCNEs92n0-bifDuMFf_5c-dcfIWfYfAExtension office to offer btips/b on estate planning/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBrewton Standard,nbsp; United Statesnbsp;-/font nobrNov 29, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1In case you need help with bcooking/b questions and we are not available feel free to call one of the Holiday Hotlines. They offer lots of helpful bcooking tips/b b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.instoremarketer.org/article/45453cid=0ei=9kg1SfjrJ6GO6APuucTfDAusg=AFQjCNHV_3SOchJEUVWj2Qaz8P8d0xnsEQClorox Prepares for Holiday bCooking/b Season/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fIn-Store Marketing Institute (subscription),nbsp;ILnbsp;-/font nobr1 hour ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Glad supports the in-store campaign with a dedicated website offering recipes, activities (including napkin folding and flower arranging) and bcooking tips/b b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.columbian.com/article/20081127/NEWS02/711279947cid=1274845653ei=9kg1SfjrJ6GO6APuucTfDAusg=AFQjCNGDdsSzEnCW4NUe-XkjlVd0Kq6lngMake Thanksgiving happy; follow safe-bcooking tips/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fThe Columbian,nbsp;WAnbsp;-/font nobrNov 27, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1You should never leave your bcooking/b unattended, a major cause of fires, and it’s best to make the kitchen off-limits to children and adults who aren’t b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.wwsb.com/Global/story.asp%3FS%3D9417865cid=1274845653ei=9kg1SfjrJ6GO6APuucTfDAusg=AFQjCNF2i0tp4K4XvWXRra0myUoviCTV-gVenice Fire Department - bCooking Tips/b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrWWSB/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20081127/NEWS01/811270308cid=1274845653ei=9kg1SfjrJ6GO6APuucTfDAusg=AFQjCNEmwCBjHSgpSmEQUZlCiVoLmlzLegFire department shares safety btips/b for bcooking/b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrJackson Sun/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.moultrieobserver.com/local/local_story_331162647.htmlcid=1274845653ei=9kg1SfjrJ6GO6APuucTfDAusg=AFQjCNEW7Wc4584zqW0BmArvFh6TKd17zAFire department offers btips/b for bcooking/b safety/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrMoultrie Observer/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-355-Low-Carb-Examiner~y2008m11d26-Thanksgiving-How-to-fry-a-turkeycid=1274845653ei=9kg1SfjrJ6GO6APuucTfDAusg=AFQjCNG8nxCv5T4os2llQuVVAZsoJ3UUZgnobrExaminer.com/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1274845653hl=ennobrall 18 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-231-Denver-Womens-Examiner~y2008m11d26-20-lastminute-Thanksgiving-recipes-and-cooking-tipscid=1274851737ei=9kg1SfjrJ6GO6APuucTfDAusg=AFQjCNHTZf8EcMk47VjwLjrwtEOBj123XQimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=OSn6b7_N1SYJimgurl=image.examiner.com/images/blog/author/img514brit2.jpg width=80 height=67 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Examiner.com/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.examiner.com/x-231-Denver-Womens-Examiner~y2008m11d26-20-lastminute-Thanksgiving-recipes-and-cooking-tipscid=1274851737ei=9kg1SfjrJ6GO6APuucTfDAusg=AFQjCNHTZf8EcMk47VjwLjrwtEOBj123XQ20 last-minute Thanksgiving recipes and bcooking tips/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fExaminer.comnbsp;-/font nobrNov 26, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1St. Louis Low-Carb Examiner Amy Dungan lets you in on Butterball.com btips/b, Thanksgiving turkey video lessons and recipes. Her article will teach you how to b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://wellfed.net/2008/12/01/teacher-tips-cooking-in-the-classroom/cid=0ei=9kg1SfjrJ6GO6APuucTfDAusg=AFQjCNF2CA1uIyHw272nyOZIVcmPyfKumgTeacher bTips/b: bCooking/b in the Classroom/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fWell Fed Networknbsp;-/font nobr21 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1I thought I’d share some btips/b for bcooking/b with children in the classroom. It is a fun activity and is a fantastic teaching method for kids who learn by b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.clintonnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20081127/NEWS/811270333/1001/NEWScid=1274953268ei=9kg1SfjrJ6GO6APuucTfDAusg=AFQjCNHs59aNF_hZuP6P6AxJoOXQqwMkRAChildren share bcooking tips/b, holiday thanks/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fClinton News,nbsp;MSnbsp;-/font nobrNov 26, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Amanda Wells On Thanksgiving Day, who#39;s going to cook that Butterball turkey, cornbread dressing and desserts galore? b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.kblg.com/modules.php%3Fname%3DNews%26file%3Darticle%26sid%3D9582cid=0ei=9kg1SfjrJ6GO6APuucTfDAusg=AFQjCNFLbPzhPalm_euHqVSsS1Dqd8CLHQTurkey bCooking Tips/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fKBLG,nbsp;MTnbsp;-/font nobrNov 26, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1THE BIGGEST DAY OF THE YEAR FOR HOME COOKS IS JUST ABOUT HERE, AND WE HAVE SOME bTIPS/b FROM HEALTH OFFICIALS TO HELP AVOID PROBLEMS. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp%3FS%3D9437994%26nav%3DLpDecid=0ei=9kg1SfjrJ6GO6APuucTfDAusg=AFQjCNGzIr25_RP56zIA7PvDXFIyg3_R3AHoliday news, btips/b, and good cheer/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMontana's News Station,nbsp;MTnbsp;-/font nobr59 minutes ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1We#39;ll add holiday-themed news stories, decorating and bcooking tips/b, videos, and quot;good newsquot; stories going on in our community during the holiday season. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://laist.com/2008/11/27/cooking_tips_from_our_house_to_your.phpcid=0ei=9kg1SfjrJ6GO6APuucTfDAusg=AFQjCNEW7He8jHvovcRniaz3W88DEXIJdwimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=CjlQc0Ni8fgJimgurl=laist.com/attachments/la_elise/IMG_6389%2520(Small).JPG width=80 height=53 alt= border=1brfont size=-2LAist/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://laist.com/2008/11/27/cooking_tips_from_our_house_to_your.phpcid=0ei=9kg1SfjrJ6GO6APuucTfDAusg=AFQjCNEW7He8jHvovcRniaz3W88DEXIJdwbCooking Tips/b: From our House to Yours/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fLAist,nbsp;CAnbsp;-/font nobrNov 27, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Whether it was your mom, dad, neighbor or Hints from Heloise, or if you had to learn the hard way, these btips/b are invaluable and keep the ambulance away. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.wnct.com/nct/news/local/article/health_officials_safe_thanksgiving_cooking_tips/24849/cid=0ei=9kg1SfjrJ6GO6APuucTfDAusg=AFQjCNHIiYz7mJr65AnrMR4znzKnHNDY6Qimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=CaUtdzwYooIJimgurl=media.wnct.com/wnct/img-story/images/uploads/Turkey_AP.jpg width=80 height=60 alt= border=1brfont size=-2WNCT/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.wnct.com/nct/news/local/article/health_officials_safe_thanksgiving_cooking_tips/24849/cid=0ei=9kg1SfjrJ6GO6APuucTfDAusg=AFQjCNHIiYz7mJr65AnrMR4znzKnHNDY6QHealth Officials Safe Thanksgiving bCooking Tips/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fWNCT,nbsp;NCnbsp;-/font nobrNov 27, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Stephanie Moore As you put the final touches on your Thanksgiving meals today, state health officials want you to be extra careful. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
cooking tips - Google News


Wind Chimes and more...

Windchimes for great gifts!

What is Gluten and Why does it Matter?

Gluten is a substance made up of the proteins found... Read More

How to cut a cake

Have you ever wondered how to cut a cake? I... Read More

Food Poisoning--An Overview

What is Food Poisoning?Food poisoning results when you eat food... Read More

Digital Thermometers

Types of digital thermometers & their culinary uses.Thermocouple:Of all food... Read More

Grill Your Corn for Maximum Flavor

There's two basic theories on grilling corn. Some people prefer... Read More

Wok this Way! (Part 1 of 5)

IntroductionWoks have been synonymous with Chinese cooking since the emergence... Read More

Once-A-Month-Cooking: How to Make Your Plan Work

As one of the oldest children in a family of... Read More

Two for One Dinners: Beef

If you find leftovers boring, uninviting or downright "yuck," then... Read More

Foods That Freeze Well

"Can I freeze it?" is a question often asked in... Read More

How to Make Homemade Ice Cream (Without an Ice Cream Maker!)

COLFAX, WISCONSIN - June is Dairy Month and what better... Read More

Kitchenaid Stand Mixers ? A Kitchen Work Horse

Kitchenaid stand mixers are very popular in today's kitchens and... Read More

Two for One Dinners: Ham

If you find leftovers boring, uninviting or downright "yuck," then... Read More

The Almighty Beer-Can Chicken

A popular method of cooking chicken in recent years both... Read More

Fine Tuning Bread Machine Mixes

Sometimes bread machines can be tricky. We were trying to... Read More

How to Grill Most Any Vegetable You Can Think Of!

Grilling vegetables is easy. The fact that more people don't... Read More

How to Peel Almost Anything

The great English cook Prue Leith once famously remarked "life's... Read More

Two for One Dinners: Beans

If you find leftovers boring, uninviting or downright "yuck," then... Read More

Cooking -- What You Need To Know

From ancient times till the nineteenth century cooking was basically... Read More

Vegetarian Cooking - Three Basics

For any of the many reasons people choose to eat... Read More

How To Eat Fresh Vegetables ? Ideas for Working More Veggies Into Your Diet

Fresh, uncooked veggies are so healthy and it's important to... Read More

Alone In the Kitchen: Stirring Up Mindfulness

Put on your apron! It's time to stir up a... Read More

How to Choose the Right Smoke for the Right BBQ Dish

BBQ smoke is one of the easiest ways to add... Read More

10 Mind-Easing Ways To Make Sure Your Childs Bag Lunch Is Safe

Perishable food must be kept cold while commuting via bus,... Read More

Cake Baking Tip Guide

Successful cake decorating is all about preparation. Baking and preparing... Read More

Hot Apple Pie - The American Apple Pie Legacy

While each country might have its own preferred style, "American... Read More