Instant Pot Bread Proofing is a fantastic hack! It's incredibly simple, and works like a charm. The Instant Pot provides the ideal warm environment for your bread dough to rise consistently, ensuring you get flawless bread every single time. I've got you covered with my fail proof Eggless dinner rolls recipe that uses Instant pot for dough proofing.
No matter where you live, using the Instant Pot to proof dough or ferment batter is the best thing I discovered a few years back. I ferment my Idli Dosa batter in the Instant Pot and it has been a game changer. The Instant Pot is a fantastic multi-cooker with this amazing yogurt feature and/or Sous Vide feature.
The ability to proof dough in the UK perfectly during winter got me hooked on using this every time.
I use Instant Pot Duo 7 in 1, 5.7l with yogurt setting and Instant Pot with Air fryer Duo crisp with sous vide setting.
What's Proofing Bread all about?
Proofing bread is a key step in making bread, where the dough gets all puffy and light. It's like bread magic! During this time, the flour's gluten gets stronger, and the yeast in the dough makes bubbles (carbon dioxide) that make the dough rise and become airy.
Most breads get proofed two times. The first time makes big air holes in the dough. After that, you knock the dough, shape it, and let it proof again. This makes smaller air holes and gives the bread a nice, even inside and outside.
In this easy trick, we'll teach you how to do the first proof in your Instant Pot. It's simple and handy!
Instant Pot proofing temperature
Did you know the ideal proofing conditions for dough include a temperature range of 30-40°C (70°-90°F) and a humidity level of 70-80%?
The Instant Pot's Yogurt function creates the perfect conditions for bacteria to do its job and transform milk into yogurt. These conditions happen to be just what bread dough needs too. That's why this method is so effective! Instant Pot maintains a temperature of about 30-40°C, providing the ideal environment and humidity for the yeast to work its magic.
Using the Instant Pot for proofing your dough is a great time-saver, often cutting the proofing time in half or more.
Proofing Time for Bread in Instant Pot
When using the Instant Pot for bread proofing, remember this handy rule: proof your dough for half the time mentioned in your recipe. Typically, that's around 1 to 1.5 hours, which means you'll be looking at 30 to 45 minutes in the Instant Pot.
I use this formula for my No knead bread, Garlic knots, Braided bread and more.
To know when your dough is all set for baking, simply poke it with your finger. If it slowly bounces back and leaves a small dent, it's ready to go in the oven. But if it springs back quickly, just give it an extra 10 to 15 minutes to proof a bit more. This ensures your bread will turn out perfectly fluffy and delicious.
Proofing bread dough in instant pot: Step by Step
To proof your dough, begin by greasing the inner pot of your Instant Pot with butter or oil.
Next, place the dough in the greased pot, and cover it with a glass lid or any other suitable lid.
Now, select the "Yogurt" setting on LOW and set an external timer for 40 minutes. I often rely on my Google Home for a convenient 40-minute reminder.
When the timer beeps, cancel the yogurt setting and carefully open the lid to check if the dough has risen.
Once the proofing is complete, remove the dough and gently punch it down before shaping it as desired.
How to proof the bread dough in Instant Pot Sous Vide function?
If your Instant Pot does not have a YOGURT FEATURE, use the SOUS VIDE FEATURE.
Set the temperature to 32C / 90° F. using the + or – buttons. Place the glass lid on the top and wait for temperature to incubate. This can take about 30 minutes or so.
Then place the dough inside, place a glass lid or the lid that came along with it for 30 -40 minutes.
Check and if the dough has doubled in size, punch down, remove from pressure cooker and proceed for the second rise.
How to proof the bread dough in Instant Pot without yogurt setting?
If you are using one of the older instant pot's, It can be a bit trickier to proof the dough without YOGURT and SOUS VIDE feature. However, you can try using the "KEEP WARM" button. But be cautious because the "KEEP WARM" setting can be too warm and might harm the yeast.
Here's a workaround: Add 2 cups of water to the inner pot of your Instant Pot. Turn on the "KEEP WARM" setting for 30 minutes and then turn it off. After that, place your dough in a covered bowl on a trivet and let it proof using the residual heat. This method works well if you're working with a small amount of dough.
More Instant Pot recipes
How to proof bread dough in Instant Pot (+ eggless dinner rolls recipe)
Print Pin RateIngredients
- 3 ½ cup Flour
- 2⅓ teaspoon or 7g Yeast
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 2 tablespoon Sugar
- 3 tablespoon Butter
- 1 ½ cups Warm Milk
- 2 tablespoon milk for brushing
Instructions
Knead the Dough:
- In a mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients and knead to a soft dough. This can take up to 20 minutes.
- If the dough remains sticky, you can gradually add another 2-3 tablespoons of flour to achieve the desired consistency.
How to proof bread dough in instant pot?
- Grease the inner pot of the Instant Pot with butter or oil.
- Place the dough in the greased pot and cover with glass lid.
- Select the Yogurt Setting and set an external timer for 40 minutes (you can use a voice assistant like Alexa or Google Home for a 40-minute reminder).
- When the timer beeps, cancel the yogurt setting, and open the lid to check if the dinner roll dough has risen. Lightly deflate the dough by punching it down.
Divide the Dough & Second Rise:
- Pinch pieces of the dough and divide them into 12 equal portions. Roll and shape each portion to have a smooth top.
- Transfer all the rolls to a greased baking sheet. Cover them with a soft towel or plastic wrap and allow them to second rise. This can take from 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the weather and altitude.
- Brush the rolls with milk.
Bake the Dinner Rolls:
- Preheat your oven to 200°C (392°F).
- Position the baking tray on the lower shelf of the oven and bake the rolls for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they are cooked through and have a golden-brown top.
- If the rolls start getting too brown, you can cover them with a sheet of foil and continue baking.
- Once done, remove the rolls from the oven and brush them with melted butter. Serve them immediately or store them in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
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