Avoid pale, tough, flat and otherwise sad dinner rolls with these tips.
Trying your hand at homemade dinner rolls for a holiday meal like Thanksgiving dinner?
You won’t be disappointed.
Jennifer Causey
A few things could be going wrong.
Let’s start with the yeast.
Yeast has a “use by” date.
As it moves beyond that time, it loses its oomph.
Check the date printed on the package to ensure it’s within its usable life.
Check its vitality by adding some yeast to lukewarm (not hot!)
Victor Protasio
water combined with a little bit of sugar in a small bowl.
If not, you have reason to be suspicious that your yeast needs to be retired.
Another reason for your dough not rising?
While sugar activates yeast, salt has the opposite effect.
Yeast works best when it’s good and muggy.
Pictured recipe:Spicy Seeded Rolls
2.
How to Fix: Tough Dinner Rolls
Do your dinner rolls resemble shoe leather?
Too much flour, or not the right kind, could be to blame.
You needsomestructure, but not so much that you could’t bite through your bread.
If your dough feels firm and unpliable, let it rest.
How to Fix: Dough That’s Hard to Shape
Perfectly round dinner rolls start with a workable dough.
What makes a workable dough?
One that’s not too sticky, not too dry and not too springy.
But not to worry, there are easy fixes.
When you’re dividing your dough into pieces, ensure the pieces are the same size.
From there, cut each quarter into even sections.
Cover the pieces of dough you aren’t working with right away to prevent them from drying out.
Remember when adding both flour and water: Less is more!
If your dough feels tight and springy, it needs a time-out.
Place the pieces on a lightly floured surface, cover them with a clean kitchen towel and walk away.
hit it one more time in 10 minutes.
How to Fix: Pale, Dry Rolls
Did everything right but your rolls look dull?
You may have forgotten the egg wash.
Egg wash gives baked goods a golden shine and can also help toppings to adhere.
Dinner rolls get toppings?!
A sprinkle of wheat bran, cornmeal or chopped nuts is a nice addition to a dinner roll.
Avoid burning the dinner rolls and instead use a slow cooker.
How to Fix: Rolls Not Made Ahead
Pulling together a holiday dinner is enough work as it is.
Luckily, dinner rolls can (and should!)
you’re free to cook them to completion and then gently reheat them in a warm oven.
