Bake it better

Follow these tips to get the most out of your loaf

For an extra crispy crust, place a tray of 15 ice blocks in the bottom of the oven, or mist the oven with water every 10 minutes using a spray bottle. This creates steam, which keeps the crust soft during the first 5–10 minutes of baking time so the bread can rise well. It also creates a crisp crust later.

Bake bread on a well-floured baking tray, this adds texture and stops the loaf from sticking to the tray.

For soft dinner rolls, pack the balls of dough together so they are snug. This will create steam when they bake, which will result in a crusty top and fluffy, soft sides.

Use a baking stone to create a crispy base. If you don’t have one, place 2 bricks in the oven and place the baking tins on the hot bricks, or the place the loaf directly onto the bricks.