No Knead Bread

No Knead Bread – you guessed it, no kneading required! 4 simple ingredients all baked in a Dutch Oven resulting in a bread that is simply perfection, hands down the best bread you’ll ever eat!

The simplicity of this no knead bread is what I love the most! The ingredients for this loaf are the same as for my famous artisan bread but the way it’s made is totally different. We’re going to achieve flavor by allowing for a slow rise and a perfect crust by baking this bread in a pot with the lid on.

The thought of baking bread in a cast iron pot with the lid on never crossed my mind years ago, but it makes complete sense. As you bake it with the lid on, it creates steam inside the pot therefore creating a nice crust on the bread. Did I mention it’ll also fill your house with the wonderful aroma of freshly baked bread?

What Is No Knead Bread?

No Knead Bread was first published in the New York Times about 10 years ago. This bread requires no kneading which is why it’s become so popular. You basically throw everything in a bowl, mix it up, let it sit around for a few hours and let the yeast do its work, then bake it.

The slow rise is what gives the bread that great flavor, and the baking method is what gives it that incredible crispy crust. Super simple right? I promise I’m not pulling your leg, this recipe is super simple and super delicious. It’s a recipe that I make often. This bread makes its way in my kitchen at least once a month so trust me when I tell you, that this really works and it really gives you the best bread ever!

Ingredients

This ingredient list is short and sweet! Well not literally sweet – you get the point. Detailed measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.

• Flour – We only need good old fashioned all purpose flour! No need for the fancy stuff.
• Salt – Believe me, salt makes all the difference, so don’t skip this!
• Yeast – I used active dry yeast today. I insist on using active rather than instant as we really want a long and slow rise to develop our flavor. I’ve included a section about yeast below.
• Water – It’s super important to make sure your water is at room temperature as it will affect the outcome of your yeast.

How To Make

Detailed measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.

1. Form the dough: In a big bowl mix the flour, salt and yeast together. Pour water into the bowl and using a spatula or a wooden spoon mix it until well incorporated. You do not need to activate the yeast before, even though we’re using active dry yeast. The slow rising process will do the trick.
2. Allow it to rise: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit on your counter or inside your unheated oven for 12 to 18 hours.
3. Preheat your oven: Preheat oven to 450 F degrees. Add your cast iron pot to the oven as it’s heating and heat it as well until it’s at 450 F degrees. The pot is hot enough when the oven reaches 450 F degrees. Use oven mitts, as to not burn yourself.
4. Shape the dough: Flour your hands really well and also sprinkle a bit of flour over the dough. With your floured hands gently remove the dough from the bowl and roughly shape it into a ball. Take the ball of dough and drop it into the pot. Cover the pot with the lid and place it back in the oven. Alternatively, you can also place the ball of dough onto a piece of parchment paper, then lift the parchment paper and drop it in the pot, with parchment paper and all. This could also ensure that your bread doesn’t stick at all to the bottom of the pot. I have found that if I use parchment paper, the bread doesn’t brown so much on the sides, but otherwise it’s still crusty and delicious.
5. Finish the bread: Bake for 30 minutes with the lid on, after which remove the lid and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown. Remove the bread from the pot, it should fall out easily. Let cool completely before slicing into it and serving.

Some Tips

1. If you want to make sure your bread doesn’t stick to the pot you can sprinkle some flour or cornmeal on the bottom of the pot. Also, as mentioned above you could use parchment paper.
2. Do not refrigerate the dough as it rises, yes it will be safe on your counter for 18 hours.
3. Want an easy way to know if your bread is done? Take the bread out of the Dutch oven, turn it upside down and give the bottom a firm thump with your thumb, or a knock and if it sounds hollow it’s done.
4. The slow rise at room temperature is what gives no knead bread its power. I’ve been asked many times if it needs to sit around for that long and the answer is simply, yes! The yeast needs time to perform its magic.

Can I let the dough rest for longer than 18 hours?

Yes! I’ve often left the dough out for a full 24 hours with no changes to the resulting bread whatsoever. I wouldn’t leave it longer than 24 hours.

Why did my bread stick to the pot?

To prevent your bread from sticking to the pan, make sure you pan is hot enough before adding the dough. If the pan is very hot at the bottom, you bread will instantly begin to cook, letting it rise smoothly. To prevent your bread from sticking, you could sprinkle some cornmeal on the bottom of the pot, or even use some parchment paper.

Why is my bread chewy?

Usually your bread will be chewy when there isn’t enough gluten formation or you’re using a low-protein flour. Make sure you let your bread dough rest for at least 12 hours to give it enough time for gluten formation.

My bread is too dense

Usually bread will be too dense when there is too much flour. Keep in mind this dough will be pretty sticky, do not add more flour than specified. Other factors that come into play are humidity and age of flour. Little yeast, long rise, sticky dough are keys to a good, light loaf. Also do not over mix the dough in the beginning, there really is no kneading required.

Can I double the recipe?

You can double it but you’ll need a bigger pot, such as a 5 or 6 quart Dutch oven. The baking time will also need to be adjusted. You will probably need to bake it for a total of 60 to 70 minutes, the first 30 minutes with the lid on. The bread will be done when the internal temperature is at around 200 F degrees.

What’s yeast got to do with it?

• Always check the expiration date on your yeast and make sure it hasn’t expired. All your yeast products whether it’s in a jar or a package should be stamped with a “Best if Used by” date. Always make sure you check this date, even when you purchase the yeast.
• To keep your yeast fresh and longer lasting, unopened yeast packages or jars should be stored in a cool or dry place such as your cupboard.
• However, you can also store your yeast in the fridge or freezer. If you do store it in the freezer and need to use yeast for your baking, make sure you take out the amount you need and let it sit at room temperature for at least half hour before using.
• Once your yeast package or jar has been opened, you must refrigerate the yeast or freeze it in an airtight container.
• One thing to remember about your yeast, is that it is a living organism and over time it will lose activity, even if you’ve never opened the jar or package. So if you don’t bake often, buy the smaller yeast packages rather than a big jar of yeast.

Make ahead

This bread can dry out a little easily so it is best to store it tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container to preserve it longer. You can store it like this for about 3 to 4 days right on the counter or freeze it for up to 3 months.

More no knead recipes to try:

• No Knead Skillet Bread Ready in less than 3 hours, Start to Finish!
• Fast and Easy No Knead Bread in less than 3 hours, Start to Finish!
• No Knead Dutch Oven Whole Wheat Bread
• Sunflower and Flax Seeds Whole Wheat Cast Iron Bread
• No Knead Hot Cross Buns
• No Knead Cinnamon Rolls

This recipe was originally shared Nov 10, 2012.