No-Knead Sandwich Bread
This no-knead sandwich bread is a great recipe for those days when you don’t want to spend time kneading the dough. The slow proofing of six hours is the secret to building flavor in this bread. With 5 minutes to mix and 40 minutes to bake, this has now become our family favorite recipe.
The most popular recipes on the blog right now are bread recipes. And while I have many sandwich bread recipes, many of you have been asking if my no-knead crusty white bread can be used to make sandwich bread.
Well, there was only one way to find out. I decided to test a few methods and found just the right time and temperature for you to make that into this no-knead sandwich bread.
About this no-knead sandwich bread
This bread is perfect for anyone that loves sandwich bread but does not want to knead the dough. If you have never made bread before, this is a great recipe to start. The dough is soft, wet and sticky, and yet that is what gives it a beautiful crust on the outside and a soft moist bread on the inside.
We do not knead the dough. But, the slow proofing of six hours, compared to the usual one hour, is what helps develop the gluten as well as flavor in this bread. The longer you leave it to proof the more flavorful the dough becomes. But, I wouldn’t go beyond 24 hours.
The process for this bread cannot be any more simple than this.
- Prepare the dough – 5 minutes
- Leave on the counter – 1 hour (this gives us a good start)
- Place in the fridge for 6 hours, or up to 24 hours
- Shape the loaf – 10 minutes
- Proof the loaf – 60 minutes
- Bake – 45 minutes
Useful tips and tools
- A small mixing bowl or measuring cup to activate the yeast. I prefer to use glass over metal. If the metal is cold, it can lower the temperature of the liquid ingredients. Not a big deal. And yet, it’s nice to get the yeast activated quickly and move on with the recipe.
- I like mixing bread dough by hand. It’s quite therapeutic. But bread dough can be difficult to handle. Not just because it needs more kneading but also because it’s often a soft, sticky mess. And yet, keeping the dough soft and sticky is important for good bread baking. So, I highly recommend using a stand mixer such as Kenwood, or kitchen-aid. Personally, I also have a hand mixer. And yet, I don’t use it for baking bread. Because bread dough is dense compared to cakes. So, it might harm my hand mixer. (recommended read – which stand-mixer is good for home bakers)
- Baking bread is a science. So, measuring ingredients correctly is important. Also, do not wing the measurements. Use a measuring cup for liquid ingredients and measuring spoons for dry ingredients.
- And, a good baking tray is as important to bread baking as it is to other baking. Therefore, buy a good quality baking tray that’s not too thin. The thick ones will prevent the bread from burning on the bottom. Sometimes you can even add a second tray on the bottom to prevent it from getting burnt.
- Every oven works differently. So, the baking times are just guidelines. In the case of bread, a hollow sound on the bottom of the bread is a great indication. If the bread bakes too quick or too slow, compared to the time given, it might be a good idea to check if your oven needs calibration. An oven thermometer is a great little gadget to help keep the oven temperature in check. All you need to do is adjust the temperature accordingly.
Ingredients and substitutes (Save/Pin)
- Flour – I have always used all-purpose flour for this bread.
- Water – It is very important to use warm water, not cold or hor water. The cold water will not revive the yeast and hot water will kill the yeast.
- Instant dry yeast – I like to use instant dry because I’ve always had great success with it. If you have to use active dry yeast, you will need 2 1/4 tsp or one packet. And if you use fresh yeast, you will need about 21 grams. Also, it’s not necessary to activate the yeast, but I like to take the guesswork out and make sure my dough will rise.
- Sugar – The sugar here is not really to add sweetness. So no, the one tablespoon won’t make your homemade dinner rolls sweet. The sugar and fat in the recipe are there to feed the yeast. Just as you need warm liquid to activate the yeast you need sugar and fat to strengthen it and let it grow. If you prefer, you can substitute sugar with 2 tbsp of honey.
- Olive oil – A good source of food for the yeast and adds a nice flavor as well.
How to make an easy no-knead bread (save/pin)
Makes two 7-inch loaves or one 13-inch loaf
Prepare the dough
- In a bowl, combine flour and salt – set aside.
- In a measuring cup – measure the warm water, add olive oil, sugar, and yeast. Combine well.
- Add the yeast mixture to the flour mixture.
- Use a wooden spoon or spatula to combine it well making sure that no dry flour is left on the bottom.
- This is a very wet dough, so don’t try touching it with your hands.
- Cover with a clean kitchen cloth or plastic wrap.
- Let it rest on the countertop for an hour.
- Then place in the fridge for 6 hours (up to 24 hours).
Shape the loaf
- Line the loaf pan with parchment paper. Since this is a wet dough the sides can sometimes stick.
The parchment prevents sticking as well as too much browning. - Remove the dough from the fridge onto a well-dusted work surface.
- A spatula and flexible bench scraper works best, if not use a silicone spatula.
- Divide the dough into two if you are making a 7 x 4-inch loaf or make one large 13 x 4-inch loaf.
- Making sure to use sufficient flour, form a loaf shape (see video).
- Place the dough into the prepared baking pan/pans.
- Cover and let proof for another 60 minutes. It won’t rise much at this point but since the dough is cold it will need about 60 minutes.
Bake the bread
- Preheat the oven at 200 C/ 390 F.
- Sprinkle a little flour on the top of the loaf. Make two lines with a knife (air vents) to prevent bursting (I prefer the natural burst)
- Bake the 7-inch loaves for
- 15 minutes at 190 C / 380 F
- 15 minutes at 170 C / 340 f
- Bake the 9-inch loaf for
- 20 minutes at 190 C / 380 F
- 25 minutes at 170 C / 340 F
- Remove the bread from the oven and transfer to a cooling rack.
- Let cool for at least 20 minutes before you cut into the bread. (cutting the bread while still hot will dry it out)
- Enjoy!
Tips for baking the perfect no-knead bread
- This dough is a high hydration bread, which means it has to be soft, wet and sticky. Don’t add more flour.
- Use warm water – not hot, not cold. The cold water will not revive the yeast, hot water will kill the yeast. Read here – baking with yeast a beginner’s guide.
- Do not try to knead it. Because it has too much water, and trying to knead it will be not just difficult but also not worth the effort.
- Don’t make haste with the proofing. We use less yeast in this bread so the proofing is slow. But it also helps develop flavor and structure.
- When baking, the top of the bread will have a burst effect because of steam trying to escape. If you do not like the burst effect you can score the bread on top before baking. Mark an X or just two slashes. This will direct steam to come out from those designated vents you created.
- Take the bread out of the tray as soon as it is out of the oven. This will prevent the bread from getting soggy on the bottom.
- Do not cut the bread at least 20 minutes after it is out of the oven. This will prevent moisture in the form of steam from escaping from the bread resulting in dry bread.
- Do not cover or wrap the bread while it is warm. The steam will soften the crust.
- Do not store bread in the fridge as it will dry. Leave it on the counter at room temperature for 2 to 3 days. This is a great bread to freeze and yet freeze slices instead of the whole bread.
- If you have a Dutch oven, use it. This bread gives a wonderful crust when baked in a Dutch oven (See this video).
Frequently asked questions
This no-knead bread will keep at room temperature for 2 to 3 days. Once cut, make sure to wrap the cut side of the bread well to prevent drying out.
Absolutely. I cut the bread into slices. Place it into a re-usable silicone storage bag in the freeze. When I need it, I just thaw slices in the microwave for 15 to 30 seconds.
You can use bread flour. Personally, I prefer the texture of the dough with all-purpose flour. Bread flour does give a softer, chewier bread with a tough crust.
You certainly can make half the recipe. Just change the number of servings in the recipe card below and it will calculate the recipe for you. Then bake one 7-inch loaf
If you have a Dutch oven this dough makes a wonderful crusty bread that is still soft on the inside. You can see this video and recipe I shared for No-knead crusty white bread.
Yes, you can let the dough rise up to 24 hours.
Troubleshooting
Why did my bread sink?
The oven must be very hot, which is why we start to bake this in a very hot oven. If the oven is not hot enough the dough will sink.
Why is my dough is too dense?
The dough needs to be soft, wet and sticky. The less yeast, high water content and slow rise help gluten development. If you add too much flour the dough will be dense.
Why did my dough not rise after 6 hours?
You must use warm water or room temperature water. Warm water will revive the yeast, while hot water will kill the yeast and the dough will not rise. If the water was the correct temperature then check the yeast, perhaps the yeast is past its expiration date.
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No-Knead Sandwich Bread Recipe
Print Pin RateDescription
Ingredients
Makes 2×7-inch loaves or 1 x 13-inch loaf
- 512 grams (4.1 cups) All-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp (1 1/2 tsp) Salt
- 1 tsp (1 tsp) Instant dry yeast
- 415 ml (1.75 cups) Water warm
- 1 tbsp (1 tbsp) Olive oil
- 1 tbsp (1 tbsp) Sugar
Instructions
Prepare the dough
- In a bowl, combine flour and salt – set aside.
- In a measuring cup – measure the warm water, add olive oil, sugar, and yeast. Combine well.
- Add the yeast mixture to the flour mixture.
- Use a wooden spoon or spatula to combine it well making sure that no dry flour is left on the bottom.
- This is a very wet dough, so don’t try touching it with your hands.
- Cover with a clean kitchen cloth or plastic wrap.
- Let it rest on the countertop for an hour.
- Then place in the fridge for 6 hours (up to 24 hours).
Shape the loaf
- Line the loaf pan with parchment paper. Since this is a wet dough the sides can sometimes stick.
- The parchment prevents sticking as well as too much browning.
- Remove the dough from the fridge onto a well-dusted work surface.
- A spatula and flexible bench scraper works best, if not use a silicone spatula.
- Divide the dough into two if you are making a 7 x 4-inch loaf or make one large 13 x 4-inch loaf.
- Making sure to use sufficient flour, form a loaf shape (see video).
- Place the dough into the prepared baking pan/pans.
- Cover and let proof for another 60 minutes. It won’t rise much at this point but since the dough is cold it will need about 60 minutes.
Bake the bread
- Preheat the oven at 200 C/ 390 F.
- Sprinkle a little flour on the top of the loaf. Make two lines with a knife (air vents) to prevent bursting (I prefer the natural burst)
- Bake the 7-inch loaves for 15 minutes at 190 C / 380 F, then 15 minutes at 170 C / 340 F.
- Bake the 13-inch loaf for 20 minutes at 190 C / 380 F, then 25 minutes at 170 C / 340 F.
- Remove the bread from the oven and transfer to a cooling rack.
- Let cool for at least 20 minutes before you cut into the bread. (cutting the bread while still hot will dry it out)
- Enjoy!
Equipment
Nutrition Information
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
About Videos – most recipes has two videos – a quick version & longer detailed version. Sometimes a similar recipe video may be used
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Karen
Why haven’t I ever tried no-knead sandwich bread?! Seems so easy and the texture looks perfect.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Karen. yes, it is so easy
Kushigalu
Love no knead bread. This looks fantastic. I will soon try your recipe
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Kushi
EA The Spicy RD
What a delicious looking loaf of bread! I wish I could eat this (I follow a gluten free diet), but since I can’t, I know my husband and kids would LOVE to wake up to a slice of warm bread first thing in the morning!
Veena Azmanov
Thanks, EA
Noelle
This was so simple! I love the flavors and texture of the bread too!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Noelle. Happy you enjoyed it.
Haley D Williams
I cannot wait to smell this baking in my house! Nothing beats the smell of homemade bread! I love that you don’t have to knead it!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Haley. I think you will love it
Tawnie Kroll
This recipe was so great to have especially since I can’t find any bread on the shelves right now! Thank you!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Tawnie. yes, currently there is on bread in our stores too.
Anita
No knead bread is so great. It’s the first time I see a sandwich version. Will definitely be baking this ASAP.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Anita. I hope you try it
Jessica Formicola
I am so grateful to have found this recipe! The stores are lacking on bread, so I can’t wait to try to make my own!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Jessica. Yes, our bakeries are closed too.