Using Whey for Bread

I started using whey from my cheese making for my breads and have found that it makes the breads softer and that they stay fresh and moist for a lot longer. They actually start molding before they dry out.

Here are a couple of recipes: Makes 2 loaves

Mix one fourth warm cup of whey with yeast (sprinkle yeast over top to form a complete skin over whey)

In another bowl mix:
3 cups bread flour (any flour works really)
2 cups warm whey
2 tbsp (lard or butter) (home made lard makes it filling, home made butter makes it light and fluffy)
2 tbsp honey

Mix until well blended - then add yeast mixture. It will end up a bit watery

For white bread - Add about 3 cup (try sprinkling on one cup at a time) until dough is firm and not sticky
For wheat bread - Add 2 cups wheat and 1 cup bread flour
For rye bread - Add 1 cup wheat, 1 cup rye, and 1 cup bread flour

Kneed until the dough is solid but not sticky. Sometimes you will use less flour than others. It all depends on the temperature and humidity.

Place in an oiled bowl (I usually just oil the bowl that I used to mix the dough.) and place some seran wrap over the bowl. Let it double in size.

After it has doubled - kneed again, separate into two loaves. Place loaves into backing pans of your choice (if you are using bread pans make sure you oil the sides and bottom, if you are using a stone make sure that it is seasoned, otherwise rub some oil to the stone). Cover the loaves with seran wrap (I re-use mine every time.) and let them rise. Once they have doubled in size get the stove ready.

Raise temp to 450 degrees F. Once ready put loaves in for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes lower temp to 350 and leave the bread in there for 30 minutes. (If you are using baking stones, you can put them on different racks and leave each loaf on the top for 7 minutes - meaning that they will be at 450 for about 15 minutes. Then lower temp to 350 and leave for 30.)

If you are making multiple types of bread make sure you mark them with slashes or a cross on the top to distinguish different types.

Enjoy!!