Kneading

July 1, 2025

Hello Friends,

When we hear the word “kneading” we usually think of making yeast bread, but the term is also used for mixing baking powder biscuits or in making noodles. This process of mixing can be done the traditional way by hand or by today’s more modern machine method using a bread hook. When the glutinous flour is mix with liquid the gluten proteins expand making the dough hold together and giving the product its texture.

The kneading process when making yeast bread is usually done in two stages; kneading until elastic feel, letting the dough rise or “proof”, punching it down and rising again in baking pan. This process gives the bread a more fine, dense and delicious texture. Kneading baking powder biscuits is quicker and easier. A few minutes will make the dough smooth enough to roll and the biscuits will hold together after baking; too little will make the biscuits too crumbly and hard to eat; too much kneading will make the biscuits harder and tougher after baking. I knead noodle dough long enough to work in enough flour to make them dry; when I fold and cut the dough the noodles will fall apart.

Kneading: Baking Powder Biscuits vs. Yeast bread

POLISH POTATO BREAD

Scald milk; add butter sugar and mashed potatoes. Add 1 cup flour and stir in; add eggs and mix well. Dissolve yeast in warm water; add to egg potato mixture and mix well. Cover and let rest until mixture bubbles about 1 ½ hours; stir down. Add enough of the remaining flour to form a stiff dough. Turn dough out onto a floured surface: knead until dough is smooth and elastic about 10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl; cover and let rise until double in bulk. Punch down and shape into two round loaves; place on a large greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise until double in bulk; dust top of each loaf with 1 tablespoon sifted flour. With a sharp knife cut an “X” design on the top of each loaf. Bake in preheated oven at 375F degrees for 30 to 40 minutes or until loaves are evenly browned.

HERB CHEESE BISCUITS RECIPE

Combine first 4 ingredients in a small bowl. Combine flour, baking powder, soda and salt in a medium bowl. Cut in cheese mixture and butter with pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Add buttermilk stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface; knead briefly about 4 or 5 times. Roll dough to ½ inch thickness and cut with a biscuit cutter. Place on lightly greased baking sheets. Bake in preheated oven at 450F degrees for 8 minutes or until golden brown.

Your friend, Frances