No-Knead Crusty White Bread Recipe from King Arthur Flour a BIG Winner with Me!

Delicious toasted and slathered with butter and homemade strawberry jam!

This is a recipe from the King Arthur website.  I came across it and though it sounded promising.  I was not disappointed!  It has the simplest of ingredients and directions.  It appeals to me because you store it in a 5-6 qt. container in the refrigerator for up to a week.  Also it makes 2-4 loaves of bread!  You just pull off the amount of dough you need and let it rise and bake.  Wonderful flavor and crusty and chewy too.  Yum sums it up!

Ingredients for No-Knead Crusty White Bread:

3 C. lukewarm water (about 105 degrees F)
6 1/2 -7 1/5 C. or most accurate of all 32 ounces unbleached all purpose flour
1 tablespoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoons Instant Yeast

The liquid/flour ratio is important in this recipe.  If you measure flour by sprinkling it in a cup and leveling it off, use 7 1/2 cups.  However if you measure flour by scooping the cup into the flour then leveling it off, use 6 1/2 cups.  The most accurate measure is by weight and 32 ounces is the perfect amount of flour!  I got the chance to use my new kitchen scale for the first time and it work out perfectly!

Combine all of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl or large plastic container with a tight fitting lid.  I used a big ice cream bucket!  Perfect! Just stir everything together with a big wooden spoon until combined.  It will make a very sticky rough dough.

Bread dough in an ice cream bucket!

 

Note:  If you choose to dirty up your big mixer use the beater blade and medium speed for only 30 to 60 seconds.

Cover the dough in the bucket or 5-6 quart container and let rise for 2 hours at room temperature.  Next leave covered and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 7 days.  The longer you leave the tangier it will get.

When you are ready to bake sprinkle the top of the dough with flour.  Grease your hands and pull off 1/4, 1/3, or 1/2 of the dough.  Round into a ball and place on a piece of parchment paper.  Sprinkle with a bit more flour and cover with saran or a kitchen towel for the rise.  Let the loaf warm to room temperature and rise until doubled.  One to several hours depending on the temperature of your kitchen.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.  Place the pizza stone or pan you plan to bake on into the oven.  Place a cast iron skillet on the bottom rack of the oven also.

Just before baking slash the top of the bread.  Slide the bread on the parchment onto the hot pan or stone.  Quickly pour at least 1 cup of water into the hot cast iron skillet and quickly close the oven door.  Bake 25-35 minutes until deep golden brown in color.

This would make 4 nice bread boules for soup I am thinking!

When done remove and cool on a rack,  When cold store in an airtight bag.