Q&A for How to Fix Dough That Won't Rise

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  • Question
    If I rolled the dough out, can I still put a damp cloth over the dough and let it rise?
    Community Answer
    Ye, you can. This is called proving the dough, that is, allowing it to rise after it has been shaped.
  • Question
    What if I don't want my dough to rise?
    Community Answer
    I found that putting it straight in the oven after kneading will keep it flat. Not keeping it warm will also keep it flat.
  • Question
    My dough is not smooth. What should I do?
    Zheng.lingdi 54
    Community Answer
    You may have over-kneaded the dough. Dough will go through a lumpy stage, sticky stage, elastic stage (perfect!) and finally a stiff, hard to manipulate stage where the surface looks broken. Like it has strings.
  • Question
    How do I know if my yeast is good?
    Community Answer
    Make sure your yeast is not expired. Test your yeast by dissolving one packet or 2 1/4 tsp. active dry yeast with one teaspoon sugar in 1/2 cup of warm water. Let it stand for 10-15 minutes. You will know that the yeast is good if it has a foamy layer on top. You can then use the mixture in your recipe, but remember to subtract 1/2 cup of liquid from your recipe.
  • Question
    Will yeast work to make the dough rise if I use coconut milk instead of dairy milk?
    Community Answer
    Milk is not what makes yeast dough rise. In fact, most artisinal breads do not contain any dairy products, just flour, water (of good quality), salt and yeast. The relations between these ingredients determine the bread's character. Other factors are kneading, resting/proofing, oven temperature and humidity during the initial stage of baking. Other ingredients like milk are added primarily for flavor. Coconut milk is basically just flavored water, not milk in the strict sense, so if you use that reduce the amount of plain water by the amount of coconut milk you use. If you had problems with the dough, it was most likely that the flour/yeast/water ratios were off.
  • Question
    Is there a difference in sweet yeast for enriched dough and normal yeast?
    Community Answer
    Yes. The sweet yeast you are referring to is called "hydrolyzed yeast," and it is meant for dough that has a higher sugar content. All other types of yeast can only eat up so much sugar.
  • Question
    I have been putting my bread in the refrigerator overnight. It isn't rising very well. Do I need more yeast?
    Catherine Ross
    Community Answer
    Don't put the dough in the refrigerator, it needs to stay warm to rise, you should cover it with a towel.
  • Question
    Do I have to put salt in my dough?
    Zheng.lingdi 54
    Community Answer
    Salt helps the crust turn brown. You can use a wash (egg, water, and milk) to help develop the crust instead.
  • Question
    How much flour and yeast should I add to my bread mix?
    Community Answer
    For about 4 cups of flour, you will need 1 package of yeast, which equals about 2¼ teaspoons or ¼ ounce.
  • Question
    I added the oil, salt, and sugar to the yeast mixture, could this have caused the bread not to rise?
    Zheng.lingdi 54
    Community Answer
    Yes, the salt will kill the yeast. Add the salt to the dry ingredients.
  • Question
    What should I do if my dough never raised and it's been 6 hours?
    Rachel32
    Community Answer
    If the dough is hard, you want to soften it. Try adding some water and flour to soften the dough. Set it to rise close to a warm location. If your oven is on, placing the dough nearby is perfect. Don't forget to cover your dough with a clean towel while it rises.
  • Question
    After forming the buns, they didn't rise anymore. What should I do?
    Community Answer
    You could still use the dough, as it is still safe. Otherwise, you could add more yeast to the dough and let it rise again. However, make sure to check your yeast to ensure it isn't expired.
  • Question
    Is it safe to eat bread which hasn't risen enough?
    Community Answer
    Yes, I've done it many times and nothing bad has ever happened.
  • Question
    I am using 100% gluten free oat flour. It tastes good, but I can't get it to rise. What can I do?
    Zheng.lingdi 54
    Community Answer
    The reason why bread rises is 1) leavening agents and 2) gluten. You need to replace the gluten. Major sources of gluten-free products recommend xanthan gum.
  • Question
    Can I make buttermilk yeast rolls by using buttermilk instead of regular milk?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can. Buttermilk lends a perfect texture to yeast rolls and other baked goods.
  • Question
    I used lactose free milk in my bread dough, will that make it not rise?
    Zheng.lingdi 54
    Community Answer
    The yeast feed on sugar first, then flour. The lactose in the milk has been digested into simpler sugars. So there is still sugar in the milk. You are fine.
  • Question
    What if my bread rises the first time but not the second?
    Zheng.lingdi 54
    Community Answer
    Sounds like your yeast ran out of fuel. Try adding just a bit of extra flour when you knead the dough right before the second rise.
  • Question
    Can I fix over-kneaded dough?
    TreeofHolz
    Community Answer
    You can't really undo the damage of over-worked gluten, but the longer rise can get the dough to relax a little. Loaves made with over-kneaded dough often end up with a rock-hard crust and a dense, dry interior. Slices will be very crumbly, especially toward the middle.
  • Question
    My dough didn't rise. I'm using the same recipe, yeast, and machine as usual, the only difference is the bread flour I bought. Why might this be?
    Community Answer
    A failure of the dough to rise is generally the yeast being inactive. Check to see if it's expired.
  • Question
    My doughnut dough rises perfectly but once I roll the dough out on the table, it won't rise again, especially when it is cold. What can I do?
    Community Answer
    Create a warm, moist location for your doughnuts to rise in after rolling them out. Try heating up your oven to a low temperature and place a casserole dish full of water inside. Turn the heat off and allow your doughnuts to rise in the warm oven.
  • Question
    Can I pre-make cinnamon buns and store them in the fridge prior to baking them the next day?
    Community Answer
    Yes! I do this all the time and it has always worked for me. Just make sure that you put them in the fridge overnight with a cover over them.
  • Question
    I put too little yeast in a bread recipe. How do I correct this?
    Reem Ahmed
    Community Answer
    The only thing you can really do is start over. Open a new package of yeast and mix a teaspoon of it with 1 cup (240ml) of warm water (at about 110°F/43°C) and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Let this mixture proof for about 10 minutes, until it gets 1/2 to 1 inch of foam. If this fails, you will need to get fresh yeast and try again.
  • Question
    The never-miss recipe I use in North Dakota doesn't work in Florida. Could the water be a factor?
    Isabeau Skorski
    Community Answer
    It could very well be the altitude difference. When I moved from Montreal, Quebec to Colorado, I couldn’t understand why all my recipes wouldn't work out. Then my neighbor explained the effect altitude has on cooking. Check out How to Adjust Bread Recipes for High Altitude to get an idea of how it works.
  • Question
    When I made dinner rolls the first time, the dough had risen perfectly. But as time passes, my dough doesn't rise as much as the first time I made them. When I baked them, they still turned into a fluffy bread. What might have happened?
    Zheng.lingdi 54
    Community Answer
    Yeast expire (die), and your bread will rise more and more slowly. It is OK to store yeast in the freezer. When you pop the loaf into the oven, the warmth induces a growth spurt, and the loaf rises impressively. Consider buying fresh yeast and storing the excess in your freezer.
  • Question
    I had a few packages of frozen dough for a few months. I took out some to bake but it failed to rise. Please advise.
    Zheng.lingdi 54
    Community Answer
    Frozen dough takes forever to warm up to room temperature. Try this: thaw the dough. This may take overnight. Warm up the oven. You want the temperature to be below 100 degrees, otherwise you'll cook the dough. Now put the more or less room temperature dough in the oven and let it rise. You'll need to oil the surface of the dough to keep it moist. Warning - your rising times will be all off due to the rapid temperature changes.
  • Question
    I made dough for cinnamon rolls, but it won't rise. I used self-rising flour and fast-rising yeast -- might this be the reason it won't rise? Is there anything I can do to fix it?
    so kawaii
    Community Answer
    You might have added too much yeast. To fix it, preheat your microwave for 30 seconds, then put the dough in a bowl with some sort of paper on the top. Leave it in the microwave for a few hours.
  • Question
    Why did my bread start to rise, then stopped?
    Community Answer
    You might have disturbed it before it finished rising, or you could have exposed it to drafty or cold air.
  • Question
    Can I leave dough out to rise overnight?
    Community Answer
    Yes, but be sure to leave it in a warm spot. You should also cover it with a towel. It is best to let dough rise overnight if you can.
  • Question
    My sweet raisin bread is taking too long to rise but I don't have problem with white bread. I bake 25 pounds at a time. What might be the issue?
    Community Answer
    Maybe you didn't knead the dough enough so that it would leaven the whole lump of dough. You may also have to add more yeast.
  • Question
    How do I know if I kneaded it long enough?
    Grace Guan
    Community Answer
    You will know when you kneaded long enough if you can see light from the dough if you stretch it very thin.
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