Crusty Italian Bread: Bake the Perfect Crust Every Time
Learn how to bake crusty Italian bread that has the perfect crust every time with this easy-to-follow recipe.
- Author: Souzan
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 18 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1.5 teaspoons instant yeast
- 1.5 cups warm water
- In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, sugar, and instant yeast together.
- Add the warm water and stir until a shaggy dough forms.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rise for 12-18 hours at room temperature.
- After rising, shape the dough into a ball and let it rest on a floured surface, covered, for 1-2 hours.
- Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C) and place a Dutch oven inside to heat up.
- Once preheated, carefully transfer the dough into the Dutch oven and cover.
- Bake for 30 minutes with the lid on, then remove the lid and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes until browned.
- Cool on a wire rack before slicing.
Notes
- For a deeper flavor, consider adding herbs or garlic to the dough.
- Use a cooking thermometer to check internal temperature for perfect doneness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 1g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Crusty Italian Bread, Bake Perfect Crust, Bread Recipe