Homemade rye bread is easier than you might think, and so worth it!

For as long as I knew my friend George he was an enthusiastic bread maker.

What Is Rye Bread?

A cutting board with sliced rye bread ready spread with butter and eat

Sally Vargas and Elise Bauer

Rye bread is simply bread that is made with rye flour.

As for this particular bread from George?It was wonderful.

Lightly flavored, soft inside, with a crusty crust.

A man holding rye bread

George holding his rye bread.Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas & Elise Bauer

My father doesn’t like caraway seeds so they were kept out.

I love them so the next time I make this bread they’re going in.

Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas & Elise Bauer

Best Way to Learn to Bake Bread?

A stack of slicked homemade rye bread slices on a board

Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

I don’t think one can easily learn to make bread by reading about it.

This is the right consistency for the dough."

Bread making is something that you just have to practice.

Rye bread on a counter spread with butter

Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

The more bread you make, the better you get at it.

It makes the perfect bread for agrilled cheese sandwich.

Have leftover rye bread that’s going stale?

Dissolving yeast with water and molasses in a measuring cup

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

Make them into bread crumbs and freeze them to use later.

you’ve got the option to sprinkle them over salads, casseroles, or thisHot Reuben Dip.

To extend its life another few days, wrap it in a plastic bag instead.

Mixing rye bread dough ingredients in a mixing bowl

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

Rye bread also freezes very well.

Thaw at room temperature and reheat in the oven if desired.

Love Baking Bread?

Rye bread dough mixed in a mixing bowl

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

Put yeast mixture into a large metal bowl.

Knead additional bread flour into the dough until it reaches the right consistency.

Knead for 5-7 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic.

Hands kneading rye bread dough on a wooden table

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a damp cloth.

Let rise at room temperature until it has doubled in size, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Gently press down on the risen dough so some of its air is released.

Kneading rye bread dough on a wooden table dusted with flour

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

Shape each half into loaf.

Cover with plastic or a damp cloth.

The dough should be peeking over the top of the loaf pan if using a loaf pan.

Hands shaping rye bread dough on a wooden table

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

If you are using a baking stone, place the stone in the oven.

Preheat it for at least half an hour before baking.

Put loaves in the oven.

Hands to the side, shaping rye bread dough on a flour-dusted wooden table

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

If you have a mister, mist the dough with a little water the first 10 minutes of baking.

Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until done.

The bread should sound hollow when tapped.

Rye bread dough rising in a metal bowl

Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas & Elise Bauer

Risen rye bread dough in a metal bowl

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

Fist punching down rye bread dough in a metal bowl

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

Shaping rye bread dough with hands on a floured surface

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

A hand smashing down and shaping rye bread dough

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

Two hands pressing down and shaping rye bread dough

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

Cutting rye bread dough into two portions with a knife

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

Hands holding half of a rye bread dough loaf

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

Rye bread dough in a loaf pan

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

Scoring rye bread dough with a knife

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

A freshly baked loaf of rye bread on a wood table

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer