No Knead White Bread Recipe

A loaf of no knead white bread sliced on a wooden board.

5 from 2 votes

This beginner-level no knead white bread recipe is a great starting point for a beginner home baker. It has a crusty exterior and tender, soft crumb. The recipe does take some time to prepare (mostly hands-off time while the dough rises) but the final loaf will be worth the wait.

Prep Time15

Cook Time40

Rise Time18

Total Time18 55

Course: Appetizer, Breakfast, Brunch, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: American

Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings: Slices

Author: Luay Ghafari

Cost: $2

Equipment

Kitchen Scale - Optional
Danish mixer - Optional
Banneton basket - Recommended
Silicone Bread Lifter - Recommended

Ingredients

3 ½ cups All-purpose flour - 465 grams
¼ tsp Instant yeast - 1 gram
2 tsp Kosher salt - 10 grams
1 ½ cups Lukewarm water - 350 grams

Instructions

Mix the dough. Add all the dry ingredients to a large bowl and mix well to combine. Add the water and stir using a fork, wooden spoon or dough mixer until shaggy. Don’t overmix, just make sure all the flour hydrated.
Rise. Cover with plastic wrap and let the dough rise at room temperature for 12-18 hours, until the surface is dotted all over with bubbles.
Form the dough. Turn the dough over onto a lightly floured surface. It will be shaggy and feel wet. That’s ok. Carefully fold the dough like you would an envelope, turn 90 degrees and repeat. The goal is to form a tight ball, with a seam on the bottom touching the work surface. It doesn’t have to be perfect.
Transfer to the basket. Carefully lift the dough ball and place it in a well-floured banneton basket (or bowl lined with a towel), ensuring that the seam is facing up. If the seam begins to undo itself, carefully pinch the dough. Cover with a towel and let it rise for 1-2 hours.
Preheat and Prepare. 30 minutes before the dough is ready, place an oven-safe Dutch oven pot in your oven and preheat to 475F/240C. When the oven is preheated and the bread has risen, carefully take out the Dutch oven and remove the lid. Flip the dough ball onto a sheet of parchment paper or silicone bread liner. You can score the bread with a lame or knife if you wish.
Bake. Pick up the edges of the parchment paper or silicone liner and carefully lower the dough ball into the uncovered Dutch oven. Place the lid back on and place the Dutch oven back into the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
Brown. After 30 minutes, remove the lid and continue to bake for another 15-20 minutes, until a golden brown crust forms. Remove the whole wheat loaf from the oven and allow it to cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.

Notes

Refer to the post above for step-by-step recipe photos.

I recommend that you use a kitchen scale. However, if you don’t have one, don’t worry, this dough is forgiving.

Important ingredient notes:

Flour: This is a white bread recipe. All-purpose flour is what I use, but you can use bread flour too. If you are looking for a whole wheat version of this recipe, try my No Knead Whole Wheat Bread recipe.
Yeast: I use instant yeast, but you can also use dry active yeast.
Salt: Salt is an essential ingredient in breadmaking. Don’t reduce the recommended amount.

Optional additions to the dough: herbs, sesame seeds, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, nuts, dried fruits, or cheese.

Nutrition