Last Updated on December 5, 2022
We have the quickest bread-in-a-microwave recipe for you! It will save you a ton of time, is super easy, and doesn’t require a lot of ingredients!
Now, you can make a delicious quick breakfast, homemade toasted sandwiches, and a gourmet serving platter for any occasion. All without the hassle of sweating away for hours on end!
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Can You Make Bread in a Microwave?
We were initially just as surprised as you might be to learn that you can make bread inside a microwave. Crazy, right? But it does kind of make sense. A microwave is an appliance that produces heat, so it will be able to “cook” the ingredients in dough and create bread.
But, where it gets complicated is how the microwave works. Microwaves work using electromagnetic radiation to produce thermal energy. This is a bunch of fancy words that basically mean the technology used produces an intense amount of heat in a very short amount of time.
So, the way your bread will cook or bake will be different than in an actual conventional or convection oven.
Can you just reheat bread in a microwave?
We thought that it is important that it is also possible to reheat bread in a microwave. But again, it will work in a different way than reheating a loaf of bread or slice of bread in an oven or toaster.
To reheat bread in a microwave, you will have to use a low heat setting. This is because the extremely high ones will make the bread instantly sweat or instantly dry (depending on the type of bread you have). Either way, it will cause the texture to either become soggy or stale.
So, once you have placed the slice or loaf on a microwave-safe plate, place it in the microwave on a low heat setting for roughly 15 seconds. Then, only add it in 5-second intervals to prevent making it soggy.
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What You Will Need To Make This Microwave Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup cake flour, sifted
- 2-3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup milk, room temperature
- 1/4 cup water, room temperature
- 3 eggs, room temperature
Equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing bowls
- Sift
- Whisk
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: Make the bread dough
First, start by sifting together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Then, give the ingredients a good stir to make sure they are evenly distributed.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the olive oil, milk, water, and eggs. Make sure you have a uniform wet mixture. Then, add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Mix them until you start forming a smooth dough.
Step 2: Knead and shape the dough
Once you have a dough ball, you can dust some flour on a flat surface. Start kneading the dough until it has a smooth surface. This kneading process helps develop gluten and makes the strands more elastic (to help give more rise). The kneading process will take roughly 8-10 minutes.
Then, once your dough is properly kneaded, you can shape it into a perfect oval or circle (depending on the shape of the microwave-safe dish or the shape that you want).
Once shaped, place the bread in a lined microwave-safe dish and score the surface. Simply make two or three parallel slices or a cross over the surface. The slices should not be very deep. Allow the bread to rest for 20 minutes while it is simultaneously proofing.
Step 3: Bake your bread in a microwave
Finally, your microwave should be set on high heat. Then, microwave your loaf for at least 6-8 minutes. Keep a close eye on the bread through the glass to see how it’s doing.
If you are nearing the end of the time but the dough has clearly not cooked for long enough, you can easily add more seconds to it.
Step 4: Test the doneness
To test the doneness of the bread, first, feel the weight of your loaf. If the load feels heavy, it can still be baked for additional time. But, if it feels lighter than it did, it has finished baking.
Then, you can also test the bread with a toothpick. Insert the toothpick in the center at the thickest part. If the toothpick comes out completely clean, the bread is done baking.
Finally, all that is left to do is allow the loaf of bread to cool slightly before slicing and serving it immediately.
Tips And Tricks
- You cannot use a traditional metal bread loaf pan to make this bread in a microwave. Metal is not compatible with this appliance. So, you will have to find other microwave-safe materials. It usually states it on the bottom of the bowl glass or ceramic loaf pan or bowl.
- You can adjust the amount of baking powder used for this recipe. Naturally, the less you add the less your loaf will rise. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. You can customize the loaf entirely to your liking. Remember, this is still a microwave cheat bread, so it will never be the same as a baked one.
- When kneading dough for making bread, you always have to get it to a smooth surface consistency. This is when the gluten strands have become elastic and will provide you with a nice internal crumb. Another test to see if you’ve kneaded the dough enough is to gently press on its surface. When it immediately bounces back to almost its original place, the dough is ready.
- These loaves do come out very pale because of the type of heat used. So, you can brush it with some butter or olive oil and bake it for another 20 seconds or so. This will help give it a slightly darker appearance.
- The exact baking time of your loaf of bread will vary depending on the microwave you have. Different models have different wattages in different settings. So, always keep an eye on your loaf, especially bigger ones.
- You can make any shaped bread with this recipe. You can even make flatbreads like naan or wraps. Simply shape them differently and reduce the baking time to about 20-30 seconds (depending on the thickness).
Is There a Microwave That Toasts Bread?
Unless you have a convection microwave, it’s pretty difficult to toast bread in a microwave. However, if you’d like to try, there are a few tips you may want to try to help achieve the best results. Place one piece of bread at a time, on a paper towel, on a microwavable plate, and try to elevate, if possible. Now cook for around 30 seconds. Remove it from the microwave and see how it feels; it may need slightly longer.
Convection microwaves work best for toasting bread as they’re not just made for heating and defrosting food. You can use them for a range of reasons, such as baking, toasting, and broiling.
How Do You Keep Bread Moist in the Microwave?
If you’re looking for a way of keeping your bread moist while toasting in the microwave, all you need to do is lightly dampen a paper or kitchen towel, and place it directly on top of the bread. This should help your bread to keep fresh and moist while heating in the microwave.
How Do You Keep Bread Crispy in the Microwave?
A double layer of kitchen towel underneath the bread and a slightly damp one on top should really help to keep your bread crispy. Also elevating the bread (by using something like toothpicks) will help the bread to crisp up evenly. Your bread will usually be ready between 30-60 seconds.
Can You Dry Out Bread in the Microwave?
You can even dry out your bread in the microwave and then use it for making breadcrumbs. To dry out bread and make your own breadcrumbs, all you need to do is tear your bread into small pieces and place them in a microwave-safe place. Cook on high for around 5 minutes. Once this time is up, your small pieces of bread will be crisp and crunchy.
How Do You Make Cloud Bread in the Microwave?
Cloud bread is soft, fluffy, and easily doable in the microwave! It will be ready in as little as 90 seconds. All you need is 3 tablespoons of almond flour, 1 tablespoon of butter, 1 egg, and 1/2 teaspoon of double-acting baking powder.
Now all you need to do is add your butter to a microwave-safe bowl. Melt your butter and then add the almond flour, double-acting baking powder, and butter. Beat until the ingredients are well combined. Now place in the microwave and cook for around 90 seconds. Once firm, loosen the edges with a knife and flip over to release.
Can You Microwave Undercooked Banana Bread?
You can reheat banana bread in the microwave. However, we would not recommend microwaving undercooked banana bread as this will not cook the bread, it will simply heat it. It can also make the banana bread become soggy. If you have undercooked banana bread, it’s best to heat it slowly in the center of your oven.
How Do You Make Gluten-Free Bread in the Microwave?
The only ingredients you need for making gluten-free bread in the microwave are a small amount of cooking spray, 4 tablespoons of gluten-free self-rising flour, and 2 tablespoons of milk. All you need to do is grease a microwave-safe cup or bowl with cooking spray and leave it to one side. Grab a bowl and mix your gluten-free flour and milk together until the mixture becomes smooth.
Now add the mixture to your greased mug or bowl and microwave at full powder for 30 seconds. Then for a further 15-30 seconds until cooked. Leave to rest for a few minutes before removing and serving.
Final Thoughts On Making Bread in a Microwave
Making bread has never been this easy! In only a couple of minutes, you have a perfectly baked loaf ready to be served. Share this incredible recipe with your fellow bakers and let us know what you think!
Delicious Bread In A Microwave - Bakes In Under 10 Minutes
Equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing bowls
- Sift
Ingredients
- 1 cup cake flour, sifted
- 2-3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup milk, room temperature
- 1/4 cup water, room temperature
- 3 eggs, room temperature
Instructions
- Make the bread dough.First, start by sifting together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Then, give the ingredients a good stir to make sure they are evenly distributed.In a separate bowl, whisk together the olive oil, milk, water, and eggs. Make sure you have a uniform wet mixture. Then, add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Mix them until you start forming a smooth dough.1 cup cake flour, sifted, 2-3 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon fine salt, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup milk, room temperature, 1/4 cup water, room temperature, 3 eggs, room temperature
- Knead and shape the dough.Once you have a dough ball, you can dust some flour on a flat surface. Start kneading the dough until it has a smooth surface. This kneading process helps develop gluten and makes the strands more elastic (to help give more rise). The kneading process will take roughly 8-10 minutes.Then, once your dough is properly kneaded, you can shape it into a perfect oval or circle (depending on the shape of the microwave-safe dish or the shape that you want).Once shaped, place the bread in a lined microwave-safe dish and you score the surface. Simply make two or three parallel slices or a cross over the surface. The slices should not be very deep. Allow the bread to rest for 20 minutes while it is simultaneously proofing.
- Bake your bread in a microwave.Finally, your microwave should be set on high heat. Then, microwave your loaf for at least 6-8 minutes. Keep a close eye on the bread through the glass to see how it's doing.If you are nearing the end of the time but the dough has clearly not cooked for long enough, you can easily add more seconds to it.
- Test the doneness.To test the doneness of the bread, first, feel the weight of your loaf. If the load feels heavy, it can still be baked for additional time. But, if it feels lighter than it did, it has finished baking.Then, you can also test the bread with a toothpick. Insert the toothpick in the center at the thickest part. If the toothpick comes out completely clean, the bread is done baking.Finally, all that is left to do is allow the loaf of bread to cool slightly before slicing and serving it immediately.
Notes
FAQs
Can you put bread in the microwave?
You can easily reheat bread in the microwave at a lower heat. But, you can also bake a bread from scratch! You just need to adjust the baking times and keep a close eye on the loaf while it cooks.
How long do you put bread in the microwave?
The exact baking times for bread in a microwave depends entirely on the size of your loaf. Flatbread can take a couple of seconds, while larger loaves, like this one today, can take up to 10-minutes. Always keep an eye on your loaf of it bakes to prevent over or underbaking it.
What happens to bread when you microwave it?
When you microwave raw dough, it will start to cook and ultimate become fully baked. The eggs and proteins coagulate and the internal crumb starts forming. When you reheat bread in a microwave, the moisture inside the slice heats and forms steam. This is what heats the bread.
Lindy Van Schalkwyk is a culinary specialist with a background in Advanced Cooking, Advanced Pâtisserie, Media Communications and Nutrition. She has gained invaluable experience in the culinary industry having worked in some of the top restaurants in Africa in 2016 and 2017. Her expertise in nutrition has enabled her to develop recipes for special dietary needs. In 2018, Lindy began working in the Food Media industry, focusing on recipe development, recipe writing, food writing and food styling.