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The easiest way to make homemade bread, ever! Learn How to Make French Bread in the Instant Pot. It is so easy to proof bread recipes in your pressure cooker, it will change the way you make bread!
Proofing bread in your pressure cooker is easy and fast. Plus, letting it rise in the Instant Pot will give you the perfect soft and fluffy loaves of French bread every time!
The flavor and texture is so perfect, you'll wonder where this simple, quick bread recipe has been your whole life.
Best Homemade Bread Recipe
Instant Pot bread makes your favorite classic French bread recipe even easier to make at home. Your pressure cooker will help the bread rise quickly, while giving it a soft, fluffy texture and perfect crust after baking.
I love making homemade bread with my family, but often find myself wishing the dough would rise just a little more quickly. Making Instant Pot bread solves that problem, and the results are amazing!
Proofing bread in the pressure cooker is so easy. I am still blown away by how simple and quick it is. Even better, you do not need a mixer to make this easy bread recipe!
Perfect for Recipes with Bread
The best part about making your own bread is all of the recipes with bread you can use it for!
I love serving freshly baked bread with a bowl of comforting soup or stew. Even better if you use the bread for an Air Fryer Grilled Cheese with Garlic Parmesan French Fry Seasoning!
Homemade Instant Pot bread is so good, you'll want to use it for all of your favorite recipes with bread. I like to make extra loaves to freeze, just so I always have it on hand!
Ingredients to Make Bread
- 1 ½ tablespoons quick rise yeast
- ½ cup very warm water + 2 additional cups
- ½ tablespoon sugar + 1 additional tablespoon
- 2 tablespoons olive oil + 1 additional tablespoon
- 2 ¼ teaspoons salt
- 6 cups flour
- 1 egg white
Be sure to keep the additional measurements above separate! You will be using these portions at different steps to make your homemade dough.
How to Make Bread at Home in the Instant Pot
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine ½ cup warm water, 1 ½ tablespoons quick rise yeast, and ½ teaspoon sugar.
After mixing together, let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes until it rises and is bubbly.
- Add 6 cups flour, 2 ¼ teaspoons salt, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 2 cups of water to a large mixing bowl.
- Once it's bubbly, combine your yeast mixture with the flour mixture.
- Keep mixing until you can roll the dough easily into a ball with your hands without it sticking.
- Pour 1 tablespoon olive oil into your Instant Pot. Place the dough inside of the pot and select the Yogurt setting. Roll the dough around in the oil so it will not stick to the pot.
- The dough will rise for the next 40 minutes. Every 10 minutes, you need to open the Instant Pot to knead the dough.
Replace the lid each time after you knead.
Tip: To make it easier, set timers for kneading the dough at the 10-minute mark, 20-minute mark, and 30-minute mark. - Once 40 minutes is up, your dough will be ready to transfer to a surface coated with flour. Preheat your oven to 425°F.
- Cut your dough in half. This will make two large loaves of French bread. Cut into four if you would like four smaller loaves.
- Shape each loaf and score the tops of each one using a knife.
Brush an egg wash (1 egg white) over the top of each loaf. This is an important step that will help them brown in the oven. - Bake for 10 minutes at 425°F. At the 10 minute mark, turn the temperature down to 375°F and bake for an additional 20 minutes. Remove, serve, and enjoy!
How to Freeze Bread
- Allow freshly baked bread to cool completely before freezing.
- Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and then again in freezer paper or aluminum foil.
- Store in the freezer for up to six months. If storing long-term, write the current date on the foil or freezer paper.
Homemade bread freezes well and thaws easily. It's perfect if you want to make sure you always have bread on hand when you need it!
How to Thaw Bread
- Remove the frozen loaf of bread from the freezer and place it in the refrigerator overnight. This will thaw the bread out perfectly.
Can you freeze bread dough?
Yes! However, if you plan to freeze your dough, you need to add more yeast.
Freezing dough will eliminate some of the yeast in the recipe, so you have to compensate by adding more.
- To freeze dough, use double the yeast listed in this recipe.
- Shape your dough into loaves, then place on a baking sheet or in a bread pan and cover with plastic wrap. Freeze for a day or two until it is completely frozen.
- Remove it from the baking sheet or pan, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap.
- Cover it with foil and put it back in the freezer. Make sure to label it with the current date.
How to Thaw Bread Dough
Just like a frozen loaf of freshly baked bread, you can thaw bread dough out in your refrigerator overnight.
Unwrap it from the plastic and foil, then place it in a plastic bag. Thaw it out overnight.
Before baking, place it back in your Instant Pot on the Yogurt setting for 10 minutes to allow it to rise again. This will "proof" the bread.
What is proofing bread?
Proofing refers to the final rise of the bread dough before baking.
It's an important step in the baking process because it allows the bread to rise properly when baking and ensures a soft, fluffy bread.
Proofing bread in the Instant Pot is so easy! Once you know how to make French bread using your pressure cooker for proofing, you will want to make it this way every time.
What to Serve with Homemade French Bread
Soups and grilled cheese recipes are my personal favorite to pair with homemade bread recipes like this Instant Pot bread! I also love to enjoy it with a beef dinner like our Best Instant Pot Lasagna Recipe or Best Steak Pizzaiola Recipe.
Homemade bread recipes are perfect for pairing with your favorite breakfast or brunch! My favorite is Eggs Benedict with perfect poached eggs and homemade hollandaise sauce.
You can't go wrong simply toasting the bread and adding a little bit of butter, too. Or serve with Baked Brie with Crescent Rolls!
More Homemade Bread Recipes You'll Love
- Easy Starbucks Pumpkin Bread
- Easy Sprouted Grain Bread
- Gluten-free Rolls
- Starbucks Gingerbread Loaf Recipe
- Gluten-free Biscuits
And give our Instant Pot Banana Bread Recipe a try! It's made entirely in the Instant Pot, from step 1 to finish. No oven baking required!
Did you enjoy my recipe for homemade Instant Pot bread? Let me know in the comments below, with a rating, and by sharing on Pinterest! I love to hear from you.
This recipe makes a great side dish for the holidays. Pair it with my other Side Dishes for Ham, Thanksgiving Dishes, Side Dishes for Prime Rib or Christmas Side Dishes!
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💬 Reviews
See what our readers are saying on Pinterest:
Added Italian spices. Amazing! Family gave it a 10 out of 10.
Joylyn
Turned out good! - I used pizza yeast and it still worked okay 🙂
Chelsea
4th time making this and it is perfect every time!
Jessica
Instant Pot Bread
Ingredients
- 1½ tablespoons Active dry yeast
- ½ cup warm water - 100-110 degrees F
- 2 cups lukewarm water
- 1½ tablespoon sugar
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2¼ teaspoons salt
- 6 cups flour
- 1 egg white - for egg wash
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine ½ cup warm water, 1½ tablespoons active dry yeast, and ½ teaspoon sugar. Give it a quick whisk and let sit 5-10 minutes until very bubbly and foamy. If it doesn't bubble up, discard and use new yeast.1½ tablespoons Active dry yeast,½ cup warm water,1½ tablespoon sugar
- Add 6 cups flour, 2¼ teaspoons salt, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 2 cups of water to a large mixing bowl.2 cups lukewarm water,3 tablespoons olive oil,2¼ teaspoons salt,6 cups flour
- Pour the bubbling yeast into the flour mixture. Mix together using a wooden spoon until you can roll the dough easily into a ball with your hands without it sticking. It should be very smooth and slightly tacky.
- Pour 1 tablespoon olive oil into your Instant Pot. Place the dough inside of the pot and select the Yogurt setting. Roll the dough around in the oil so it will not stick to the pot.
- The dough will rise for the next 40 minutes. Every 10 minutes, open the pot, remove the dough, and give it a quick knead on a flowered surface.
- Once 40 minutes is up, prepare a baking sheet with a dusting of flour. Preheat your oven to 425°F.
- Place the dough on the baking sheet and cut it in half or fourths depending on how large you want the loaves. Shape into long oblongs, and score the tops using a knife.
- Brush an egg wash (1 egg white) over the top of each loaf.1 egg white
- Bake for 10 minutes at 425°F. At the 10 minute mark, turn the temperature down to 375°F and bake for an additional 20 minutes. Remove, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
- The key part of this recipe for French Bread is the yogurt button. If your pressure cooker or Instant Pot doesn't have one, this will not work! The yogurt setting heats at a very low temperature, which is just right for proofing bread. Even the Low setting will be too hot.
- Remember to knead the dough! This will prevent it from over-proofing and develops the gluten for the perfect fluffy crumb.
- Make sure to check and ensure that your yeast is correctly blooming. If it doesn't vigorously bubble up, get new yeast and try again. The sell-by date is not reliable on yeast, as it often dies before the listed date. Dead yeast will not rise and leads to dense, flat bread.
- You must use warm water to bloom yeast! Cold water can leave it dormant, and too hot water will kill it.
Judy Lane says
How do you do sour dough starter in instant pot?
Em Beitel says
Hi Judy, thank you for your question! At this point, we have not yet made a sourdough starter in the Instant Pot. But, thank you for the inspiration! It is something we'll consider making in the future.
Paula says
No yogurt button on my instapot. Is there any substitute?
Em Beitel says
Hi Paula! Unfortunately, the yogurt setting is what makes it possible to proof dough in the Instant Pot this way - it's the perfect low heat setting for proofing (even 'keep warm' is too hot). 🙁 Maybe you could try our Peasant Bread Recipe? It's not made in the Instant Pot but is an easy bread recipe!
Loraine says
This bread was delicious and easy to make. The pictures were very helpful. I may never buy french bread again!
Em Beitel says
Loraine, thank you! We're so glad you enjoyed it!
Abbey says
After hitting the yogurt button, what do you press next? I just got a InstaPot and am not familiar with the settings.
Em Beitel says
Hi Abbey! You just press the yogurt button and it will automatically start counting time. You don't have to press next or start or anything, the Instant pot will start counting time on its own. Every 10 minutes just take the lid off and knead dough for the next 40 minutes with the yogurt setting on. We hope you enjoy - and enjoy the InstaPot! It is so great!