How to Knead Dough

Co-authored by Emily Margolis

Last Updated: December 6, 2024 Approved

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Kneading dough leads to the development of gluten and helps to uniformly distribute the gases that are produced by the yeast. This creates the conditions necessary for producing porous and spongy—in other words, delicious—yeast-based bread. Read on to learn how to knead dough like a professional.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Getting the Dough Ready to Knead

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1
Prepare a flat surface for kneading. It's easiest to knead dough on a flat surface that comes up to the level of your waist. Prepare a countertop, table, or another stable surface for kneading by cleaning it with warm, soapy water, then wiping it completely dry with a towel. Sprinkle flour over the dry surface so the dough won't stick when it's time to knead.^{[1]
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- Some recipes call for kneading the dough inside a bowl. In these cases the dough is usually only supposed to be kneaded for a minute or two. For recipes requiring a kneading period of more than three minutes, plan to use a flat surface instead.
- If you don't want to knead the dough directly on top of your table or countertop, you can line your work surface with parchment paper sprinkled with flour. Special nonstick surfaces designed to aid in kneading dough are available for purchase at baking stores.
2
Combine the ingredients for your dough. Use the ingredient amount listed in the recipe you are using. Basic dough ingredients are usually flour, yeast, salt, and water. Mix the ingredients well with a wooden spoon in preparation for kneading.^{[2]
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- If loose flour is still sticking to the sides of your mixing bowl, the dough is not yet ready to knead. Keep stirring it with a spoon until all the ingredients are combined.
- If you're having trouble moving the wooden spoon through the dough, it's ready to be kneaded.
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Dump it from the bowl directly onto the flat surface you prepared. It should form a loose, sticky ball. The dough is now ready to be kneaded.^{[3]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Kneading the Dough

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1
Wash your hands before kneading. Kneading requires working the dough between your bare hands, so wash them and dry them well before you begin. Remove your rings and other jewelry that might get caught in the dough, and roll up your sleeves so they don't get sticky.
- Since you're working with a floured surface, you may want to protect your clothes with an apron.
2
Gather the dough into a pile. When you first plunge your hands into the dough, it will be sticky and difficult to gather. Go ahead and work the dough with your hands, forming it into a ball, pressing it down and reshaping it. Continue doing so until the dough is no longer as sticky, and it becomes possible to shape it into a ball without the dough falling apart.^{[4]
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- If the dough doesn't seem to be losing its stickiness, sprinkle more flour over the top and work it into the dough.
- You can lightly dust your hands with flour to keep the dough from sticking too much.
Press the heels of your hands into the dough, pushing forward slightly. This is called "punching" the dough and helps the gluten start working. Continue doing this until the dough is slightly springy.
4
Continue to work the dough. To knead the dough, fold the dough in half and rock forward on the heels of your hands to press it flat. Turn the dough slightly, fold it in half, and rock into it again with the heels of your hands. Repeat for 10 minutes, or as long as the recipe tells you the dough should be kneaded.^{[5]
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- The kneading process should be rhythmic and steady. Don't work too slowly; handle each part of the dough quickly, never letting it rest for too long between turns.^{[6]
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- 10 minutes is a long time to repeat a physical task. If you get tired, have someone else step in and continue the kneading process.
Peter Reinhart, Artisan Baker

Once a shaggy dough has come together, resist the urge to add more flour during kneading. Extra flour will yield a drier, denser crumb. Instead, persevere with wet, sticky dough that coats the hands.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Knowing When to Stop Kneading

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The dough starts out sticky and lumpy, but after 10 minutes of kneading it should be shiny and smooth. It should be tacky to the touch with an elastic feel. If any lumps or sticky parts remain, continue kneading the dough.^{[7]
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Shape the dough into a ball and let it drop to your work surface. Did the ball shape stay intact? If the dough is ready, it should hold its shape.^{[8]
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Dough becomes firmer as you knead it, just as winding a spring makes more winding more difficult. Pinch a bit of dough between your fingers. If it's ready, it will feel like an earlobe. When the dough is poked, it should spring back into shape.^{[9]
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4
Complete your recipe. Most recipes instruct you to let the dough rise in a warm place for a few hours after the first kneading is finished. Once it has doubled in size, you may need to punch the dough down and knead it for a few more minutes, then let it rise again before baking.^{[10]
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- If you kneaded the dough until it was firm, springy and shiny, your bread should have a crunchy crust with a soft, chewy interior.
- If the dough was not thoroughly kneaded, the bread will turn out tough, dense and a little flat.

What Are Best Practices For Kneading Dough?

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Question

Why do I use a dough hook in baking?

Emily Margolis
Professional Baker
Emily Margolis is a baking entrepreneur in Baltimore, MD. With over 15 years of baking experience, she founded Baking with Chef Emily in 2018, offering private baking lessons in the D.C. area.

Emily Margolis

Professional Baker

Expert Answer

Dough hooks are used to knead bread dough. They are convenient to use, but many people prefer to knead by hand as a stress reliever.

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Can I add baking powder to the dough?

Emily Margolis
Professional Baker
Emily Margolis is a baking entrepreneur in Baltimore, MD. With over 15 years of baking experience, she founded Baking with Chef Emily in 2018, offering private baking lessons in the D.C. area.

Emily Margolis

Professional Baker

Expert Answer

Breads made with baking powder are called quick breads and do not require kneading.

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Is kneading dough with my hands the only way I can do it?

Atinuke Soje

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No, you can knead bread dough with an electric stand mixer or an electric hand mixer using the dough hook.

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Tips

It's very difficult to over-knead by hand. It is definitely possible to over-knead with a mixer, though.

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Helpful 5 Not Helpful 0
Time your kneading, especially if the recipe suggests a time. 20 minutes can seem like a long time doing the same repetitive activity. Don't cut it short.

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Helpful 4 Not Helpful 0
Cool, dry hands are best for kneading.

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