What happens if I use Milk instead of Water for bread? (2024)

The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

You are here

Home » Forums » General Discussion and Recipe Exchange » Artisan Baking

February 9, 2012 - 5:31am

What happens if I use Milk instead of Water for bread? (1)

Bread Head

What happens if I use Milk instead of Water for bread?

I make my bread using the No Knead method.

What would happen if I would subsutite Whole Milk instead of using the water it calls for?

Thanks.

Share

  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Printer-friendly version

What happens if I use Milk instead of Water for bread? (4)

hanseata

Feb 9 2012 - 7:40am

Enriched dough

You would enrich the dough with milk proteins and fat. You will need a bit more milk than the amount of water required (because of the milk solids). The dough will be softer, the crumb less open. You will have to bake it at lower temperatures than a lean bread.

In other words, your bread will be more like a sandwich bread.

Karin

  • Log in or register to post comments

What happens if I use Milk instead of Water for bread? (5)

G-man

Feb 9 2012 - 7:55am

Enzymes in milk

There is some disagreement on this issue, because people get varying results. Those few who have cited Science (with a capital S!) say that the enzymes can serve to break down/otherwise prevent the formation of gluten, leaving you with a loaf that is...less than impressive. There is a lot of advice to scald the milk first, which breaks down enzymes.

There are those who argue that modern milk pasteurization methods do this for us, in addition to eliminating many of the potential health benefits (not to mention potential illnesses) from milk.

Personally, I use powdered milk and avoid the whole thing. It tastes just like normal milk when it's in baked goods, however horrible it may be on its own.

  • Log in or register to post comments

blinsen

Feb 9 2012 - 11:40am

Richer Bread

I almost always sub in buttermilk when water (or milk) is called for, either in part or in toto. That subtle tang generally rounds the flavor quite well, although it does soften the crumb a bit. Be aware, though, that heating cultured buttermilk in the microwave to get it to the desired temperature for instant yeast will separate it. It's a bit startling to see, but nothing to worry about for your bread. And yes, you do need to up the amount a wee bit. I've not been able to get my hands on actual buttermilk, thin on the ground here in VA's close-in (read 'cow-deprived') DC suburbs, so I don't yet know what happens with the good stuff. Alas.

  • Log in or register to post comments

What happens if I use Milk instead of Water for bread? (7)

albynospyder

Jan 9 2024 - 2:39pm

Buttermilk

I know this is an old thread, I just started baking bread myself. But if you want good buttermilk, just by a quart of heavy whipping cream and dump it in your stand mixer with the whisk. It takes a while, it will turn into whip cream, then what looks like buttercream frosting, then grainy mashed potatoes. At that point, I switch out the whisk for the beater and continue. Stopping every so often to dump out the buttermilk. When done you should have approximately 1 pint of buttermilk, and one pint of fresh butter. I wring out the butter to remove as much buttermilk as I can. Hope this helps with the lack of buttermilk.

  • Log in or register to post comments

What happens if I use Milk instead of Water for bread? (8)

tpassin

Jan 9 2024 - 3:46pm

This is kind of fun to try

This is kind of fun to try once or twice. But today's "buttermilk" isn't much like this product. And even before cultured buttermilk, the liquid product would be left to sour for a few days. After all, you mostly want it to be acidic to work with baking soda, etc.

Fun fact about US buttermilk. It's usually labeled "low fat". That's because the original buttermilk, left over from making butter as described above, is automatically low fat because most of the fat is left in the butter. The US requirements for a food labeled "buttermilk" require that it have a similarly low fat content. The "low fat" labeling is a marketing thing. It's "full fat" buttermilk, if you can find any, that is a different product.

I don't know about any other countries, though.

  • Log in or register to post comments

What happens if I use Milk instead of Water for bread? (9)

islandbakery

Jan 9 2024 - 4:14pm

I just posted on another

I just posted on another thread about some buttermilk. I use full fat buttermilk available in my local grocery. It is labeled Bulgarian style and is cultured with yogurt. It is thicker than low fat and I find it more flavorful.

  • Log in or register to post comments

What happens if I use Milk instead of Water for bread? (10)

blinsen

Feb 9 2012 - 11:43am

I almost always sub in

I almost always sub in buttermilk when water, or milk, is called for, either in part or in toto. That subtle tang generally rounds the flavor quite well, although it does soften the crumb a bit. Be aware, though, that heating cultured buttermilk in the microwave to get it to the desired temperature for instant yeast will separate it. It's a bit startling to see, but nothing to worry about for your bread. And yes, you do need to up the amount a wee bit. I've not been able to get my hands on actual buttermilk, so I don't yet know what happens with the good stuff. Alas.

  • Log in or register to post comments

What happens if I use Milk instead of Water for bread? (11)

9641roger

Sep 28 2017 - 3:35pm

Milk instead of water

I use a bread maker most of the time and always use milk instead of water; it makes a much nicer loaf, and I find, a lighter one

  • Log in or register to post comments
What happens if I use Milk instead of Water for bread? (2024)

FAQs

What happens if I use Milk instead of Water for bread? ›

The fat and lactose in milk help with tenderizing the crumb of the bread making it softer and sweeter. The crust of the bread also gets more caramelization. Be aware that bread made with milk should not be baked at too high of a temperature to prevent it from browning too much too soon.

What happens if you make bread with milk instead of water? ›

Using milk instead of water in your yeasted bread is an easy way to add a touch of sweetness, making it ideal for challah, dinner rolls, cinnamon rolls, and hot dog buns. Milk sugars not only add a hint of sweetness but also result in a softer, more uniform crumb and ensure a nicely browned crust.

Can I use milk instead of water in my bread machine? ›

Water is a common ingredient, but since many people use the timer on their bread machines, most recipes call for non-fat dry milk or powdered buttermilk. However, if you are mixing your dough right away, you can certainly use fresh milk. Simply replace the water with milk or buttermilk and omit the powdered milk.

Can you replace water with milk in baking? ›

Yes, you can substitute milk for water when preparing SuperMoist cake mixes, however, the cake may be slightly drier than if prepared with water. Also keep in mind that milk will add calories and change the nutrition slightly.

What happens when you add more milk to bread? ›

Surprisingly, using milk in sourdough bread will increase the shelf life of the bread. The fats contained in the milk prolong the shelf life of your bread. These same fats help to soften the crust and crumb and they will stay softer for longer. These fats help to delay the staling process of the bread.

What happens if you don't add water to bread? ›

Dough with not enough water will not only feel dry to the touch, but will also be difficult to stretch.

Does milk make bread more tender? ›

The fat in milk can help to make baked goods more tender and moist, and can also contribute to the flavor and richness of the final product. In addition, the fat in milk can help to create a softer crumb in breads and cakes, and also improve the texture of cookies and other baked goods.

How important is water in bread making? ›

Water is necessary for yeast fermentation and reproduction; softer doughs will ferment more quickly than dry doughs. Water is responsible for the consistency of bread dough.

Why is my milk bread not fluffy? ›

If your milk bread is dense, mostly likely, the dough is under-kneaded. The dough needs to develop enough gluten to expand and become soft and fluffy. A sure way to ensure that the dough is kneaded enough is using the window pane test.

What milk is best for baking bread? ›

Soy milk has the most protein of all the alternate milks, so for baking projects that need a lot of structure (think cakes and breads), this is the best dairy-free option. The high-protein content also causes baked goods made with soy milk to brown nicely and look like they were baked with cow's milk.

What does milk do for bread? ›

The fat and lactose in milk help with tenderizing the crumb of the bread making it softer and sweeter. The crust of the bread also gets more caramelization. Be aware that bread made with milk should not be baked at too high of a temperature to prevent it from browning too much too soon.

What does milk do when baking? ›

Milk encourages the browning reactions characteristic of baked goods like pastry crusts, cookies and biscuits. Milk contributes to the keeping quality of bread and gives it a soft crust. Additional protein and sugar (lactose) in milk adds more sweetness and a browner color to baked goods than water.

Why is milk better than water for baking? ›

Texture: Dough made with milk tends to be softer and richer in texture compared to dough made with water, which can be firmer and denser. Flavor: Milk adds a subtle sweetness and richness to the dough, while water results in a more neutral flavor. This can affect the overall taste of the baked goods.

Is bread better with milk or water? ›

Milk changes bread recipes by producing a softer loaf, due to the milk fat content, which also gives bread a richer flavor. Bread made with milk browns more easily than bread made with water, as lactose or milk sugar will caramelize as it bakes.

Can you substitute milk for water in bread machine bread? ›

You would enrich the dough with milk proteins and fat. You will need a bit more milk than the amount of water required (because of the milk solids). The dough will be softer, the crumb less open. You will have to bake it at lower temperatures than a lean bread.

What does adding egg to bread dough do? ›

besides the nutritional benefits there are a few other good reasons to use egg in breadmaking. It makes the bread lighter and fluffier. The reason for that is the fat in the yolk that inhibits gluten formation just as any other fat would. This results in a looser dough that can expand and puff up more.

What can you use instead of water to make bread? ›

You can make bread without water. But you need to replace that liquid with something else, like pineapple juice or milk. I've made bread using one or the other for years and had great results. (Don't try both at once, the acid in the pineapple juice will curdle the milk!)

Why is water important in bread baking? ›

Water is necessary for yeast fermentation and reproduction; softer doughs will ferment more quickly than dry doughs. Water is responsible for the consistency of bread dough. The temperature of water can be varied in order to obtain dough of the correct temperature.

Can you use regular milk in bread? ›

Yes you can use regular milk, I just prefer the flavor with evaporated. It makes the bread more rich.

Does it make a difference what liquid you add when making bread? ›

Water is the most commonly used liquid in bread making because it dissolves and activates the yeast and it blends with the flour to create a sticky and elastic dough. Breads made with water are heavier and have a crisp crust and a chewy texture. Milk helps to enrich the dough and the flavor of the bread.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Dean Jakubowski Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 6264

Rating: 5 / 5 (70 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dean Jakubowski Ret

Birthday: 1996-05-10

Address: Apt. 425 4346 Santiago Islands, Shariside, AK 38830-1874

Phone: +96313309894162

Job: Legacy Sales Designer

Hobby: Baseball, Wood carving, Candle making, Jigsaw puzzles, Lacemaking, Parkour, Drawing

Introduction: My name is Dean Jakubowski Ret, I am a enthusiastic, friendly, homely, handsome, zealous, brainy, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.