Elasticity vs. Extensibility in Bread Dough: What’s the Difference?
Understanding how and why your dough behaves the way it does is a key part of mastering bread baking.
Two fundamental properties of dough are elasticity and extensibility. They might sound almost the same, but they are actually quite different.
These two properties are affected by two naturally occurring proteins in the flour ... Read more
Hot-cross buns are a favourite of mine and although I like most Easter foods – Simnel Cake, Easter Eggs, and those chocolate crispy cakes with mini eggs on to – I am completely obsessed with hot-cross buns and bake these for an extended Easter period. Who know, perhaps even into Summer. A rich yeasty glazed bun that toasts to perfection, packed with flavour and amazing fruit, that just needs a ... Read more
Welcome to the BakeryBits Christmas Gift Guide for 2025!
This year it's my turn to create the gift guide! I’ve gathered a selection of my favourite new finds, timeless essentials and handy accessories that no busy kitchen should be without. With larger gifts at the top then smaller stocking fillers to delight further down!
Over the past year, I’ve been bringing fresh, creative ... Read more
Folic Acid & Flour: What Bakers Need to Know
You may have noticed something new appearing on flour bags recently, namely folic acid. Although it won’t become a legal requirement until December 2026, many UK millers have already begun including it, so bakers are starting to see “folic acid” listed among the fortification ingredients.
If you’re wondering why it’s ... Read more
BakeryBits is the UK's leading online stockist of couche linen.
Many of you have bought it already and we’re very happy that you like it so much. But there will be some of you who have no idea what it is, how it can improve your bread baking, and why so many bakers consider it essential. So here is a guide to buying and caring for your couche linen cloths.
Check out our full couche ... Read more
Though we read news stories of millions forced to flee their homes and the Ukraine for safety, that’s not the whole situation. Right now bakers, cooks, front-of-house people and others are working daily to provide food to their community but also hospitals, army, the poor and anyone in need. I spoke with Anna Makievska, founder of Bakehouse artisan bakery in Kyiv which - as part of the ... Read more
Ankarsrum FAQ
Answers to your questions about… the Ankarsrum mixer
What is the Ankarsrum® Assistent?
It’s one of the oldest kitchen mixers on the market, with a huge following the world over, due to Ankarsrum’s reliability, powerful motor, beautiful design and wide variety of attachments: from easy bread dough to pasta making, make fresh ice-cream, grind meat for your own ... Read more
Tested: The Ankarsrum® Assistent Mixer, get the best price and find out more about it here.
Summary: beautiful to look at and easy to use (no steep learning curve, no idea why some reviewers say this)
Recipe tested: Dark Malt Focaccia
Notable: straightforward mixing, quiet motor, very easy to add ingredients, cleaning the easiest ever.
Opening the box
The Ankarsrum Assistent arrived ... Read more
The Best Bread to Eat With Marmalade
It's toast-time at BakeryBits and we want you to get adventurous about the flours you use for the bread you bake: so many possibilities...
As bakers we get very focused on what goes in our bread, wanting the best flour (BakeryBits probably has the best selection of great flour online), the finest sea salt (yes BakeryBits sells a range of salt too), but often ... Read more
Brød & Taylor FAQ
Answers to your questions about… the Brød & Taylor Bread Proofer.
What is the Brød & Taylor Bread Proofer??
It’s a metal heating plate with a folding box that sits above it, holding the warmth or heat in. The lid has a clear Perspex-style window to you can look inside to reassure yourself what state your dough has risen to, though ... Read more
