To make homemade bread, follow these general steps based on a simple and effective recipe:

Ingredients

• Active dry yeast
• Warm water
• Sugar or honey
• Salt
• Oil (such as vegetable oil)
• All-purpose or bread flour

Instructions

1. Proof the yeast:
In a large bowl, mix yeast, warm water, and a pinch of sugar or honey. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes until it becomes foamy and bubbly, indicating the yeast is active

. 2. Mix the dough:
Add remaining sugar or honey, salt, oil, and most of the flour to the yeast mixture. Stir to combine. Gradually add more flour until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl but is still slightly sticky

. 3. Knead the dough:
Knead the dough for about 5-8 minutes by hand on a lightly floured surface or 4-5 minutes using a mixer with a dough hook until smooth and elastic

. 4. First rise:
Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size (about 1 to 1.5 hours)

. 5. Shape and second rise:
Punch the dough down to remove air bubbles. Divide and shape into loaves. Place in greased loaf pans, cover, and let rise again until the dough rises about 1 inch above the pans (about 45 minutes to 1 hour)

. 6. Bake:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the loaves for about 30-33 minutes until golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped

. 7. Cool and store:
Remove from pans, brush with butter if desired, and cool on a wire rack before slicing. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days or refrigerate up to 5 days

. This method yields soft, homemade white bread suitable for sandwiches and toast. For a crustier artisan-style bread, a no-knead method with longer fermentation and baking at higher temperatures can be used

. This basic recipe provides a reliable way to make bread at home with common pantry ingredients and simple steps