Sandwich Bread Is the Only Bread Worth Making Yourself
In my particular area of the world, it is currently easier to get freshly baked boules and baguettes than it is to find flour, so I buy baguettes and boules. The baguettes and broths I make will never be as good as the ones I can buy for three or four dollars, and I just don’t like the baking process that much. Sandwich bread is an exception.
Not only is sandwich bread one of the easiest and healthiest breads to make, it is one of the few breads the average novice baker can do that actually tastes better than what they can buy. Even my favorite pre-cut sandwich bread is always a little dry – eaten like a cheap crunchy biscuit – while homemade sandwich bread is tender, soft and airy. (If your local bakery makes good white sandwich bread, be sure to buy it, but mine doesn’t.)
Homemade sandwich bread also comes out pretty quick in terms of bread. Unless you’re using a sourdough starter that will add the day, sandwich bread can be made during the day. It is mixed in a bowl and baked in a simple skillet; no stand mixer is required.
It is also a practical and versatile bread. It’s (obviously) perfect for sandwiches and French toast (as well as toast of other national origins), but its homey feel means it’s also suitable for more sophisticated uses. Grill it and serve with nice cheeses, tear it off and dip in pepper olive oil or brush with butter and fried garlic for a very moist garlic bread.
In terms of recipes, I usually use this Peg Amish white bread recipe , which I made with AP flour for great results; it can also be split in half to make one loaf. If you’re out of yeast but are using sourdough starter, King Arthur Flour has a good sourdough sandwich bread recipe . If you want to experience the Cadillac of white sandwich bread, invest in a small dairy farm and bake Japanese milk bread .
Finally, there are the mental rewards: making sandwich bread makes you feel like a seasoned baker because, unlike making a baguette for the first time, your first loaf of white sandwich bread will look exactly as intended. You will get immediate victory. Success! The feather in your chef’s hat. The homemade sandwich bread is truly worth your time and effort. He rewards you with a great product, and wouldn’t it be good to feel better right now?