Microwave-baked bread, today I reveal how to bake bread in the microwave without any issues. A microwave bread that stays soft, just like oven-baked. This recipe is taken from THE BIG MICROWAVE BOOK which helped me understand how a microwave works and use it like a traditional oven. If you’ve always wondered, “why does microwave bread turn out rubbery?“, today I reveal how to bake bread in the microwave, how to defrost bread in the microwave, how to toast bread in the microwave, how to proof bread in the microwave, and how to reheat bread in the microwave. In short, a comprehensive article that will try to explain why, until now, you couldn’t bake bread properly in the microwave.
The recipe for baking bread in the microwave is part of many MICROWAVE RECIPES where you will also find: MICROWAVE YOGURT FLATBREADS, MICROWAVE FARINATA and QUICK MICROWAVE RECCO FOCACCIA.
For baking bread in the microwave, two things are important: the dish you use and the power combined with the grill. For this recipe, I recommend this accessory found in the MICROWAVE CRAFT RECIPES, because this pan allows direct microwave cooking, as it reaches 464°F (240°C), the perfect temperature for crusty on the outside and soft on the inside microwave-baked bread.
Try these recipes as well:
- Difficulty: Medium
- Cost: Very cheap
- Rest time: 2 Hours
- Preparation time: 30 Minutes
- Portions: 1Piece
- Cooking methods: Microwave
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
- Energy 206.52 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 37.54 (g) of which sugars 1.05 (g)
- Proteins 5.06 (g)
- Fat 3.92 (g) of which saturated 0.53 (g)of which unsaturated 0.00 (g)
- Fibers 1.33 (g)
- Sodium 157.31 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 70 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for a semolina loaf baked in the microwave
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup semolina flour (+ for dusting)
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 0.07 oz fresh yeast
- Half tsp fine salt
- Half tsp sugar (or honey)
What you need to make microwave bread
- 1 Microwave oven
- 1 Pot microwave heating material
- 1 Microwave rack
- Parchment paper
How to make bread in the microwave
Pour the flours into a bowl, crumble the yeast, add the sugar, and pour in the water. Mix well with a wooden spoon and then add the salt and oil. Work again until you have a homogeneous mixture. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator. Let the dough rise for 24 hours.
The next day, remove the bowl from the refrigerator and bring it to room temperature. Dust a surface with a little semolina flour, pour the dough, spread it with your fingers, and then fold it until you get a loaf.
To preheat the microwave, proceed as follows, place a glass of water and the heating pot inside. Run for 2 minutes at 600 watts.
Take the pot and close the microwave door so it doesn’t cool down, and dust the inside of the pot with a little flour, place the loaf inside, and flour the surface. Make two cuts on top of the bread. Place the pot in the microwave and let it rise for 2 hours or until doubled.
Remove the glass from the microwave and place the pot on the rack. Start the first bake for 12 minutes with microwave + grill function at maximum power.
Remove the rack and place the pot on the microwave base, restart the bake for 3 minutes with microwave plus grill function at reduced or low power*. This way, the bread core will be cooked.
Remove the bread from the pot and place it on a rack to cool for 30 minutes.
Extra tips for making good microwave bread
*If you cannot adjust the combined power, in the second baking step, place a sheet of parchment paper over the bread, so the baking will be even.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
How to toast bread in the microwave
If you need to make croutons in the microwave, you can slice it into regular pieces, place them in a microwave heating tray (Crisp), and place on a rack. Run for about 8 minutes with the grill function only, turning the slices halfway through.
How to defrost bread in the microwave
Often, when defrosting bread in the microwave, it becomes hard and/or rubbery after cooling. The trick is in the power you use and ensuring the bread doesn’t get too hot. For a good result, weigh the frozen bread and use the defrost function. For 100 g, it will take about 3:50″, turning the bread halfway. Let it rest for 5 minutes in the turned-off microwave then you’ll have soft and perfectly defrosted bread.
How to reheat bread in the microwave
As with baking, reheating bread in the microwave requires moderate watts combined with the grill, even better if placing the bread on a heating material tray.
