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    Home » Recipes » Breads » How to Make French Bread in the Instant Pot

    How to Make French Bread in the Instant Pot

    Published: Apr 18, 2020 Modified: Jan 27, 2023 by Isabel Laessig

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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.

    How to make french bread - Close up of homemade french bread recipe slices

    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!

    How to make french bread - A loaf of homemade french bread cut into slices

    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!

    Air fryer grilled cheese cut in half next to some fries

    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

    1. 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.
      Yeast rising for instant pot bread recipe
    2. 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.
      Mixing flour for instant pot bread recipe
    3. Once it’s bubbly, combine your yeast mixture with the flour mixture.
      Mixing yeast into flour mixture for instant pot bread recipe
    4. Keep mixing until you can roll the dough easily into a ball with your hands without it sticking.
      Mixing the dough for homemade bread recipe
    5. 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.
      dough for instant pot bread recipe in pot
    6. The dough will rise for the next 40 minutes. Every 10 minutes, you need to open the Instant Pot to knead the dough.
      Kneading the dough in the instant pot
      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.
    7. Once 40 minutes is up, your dough will be ready to transfer to a surface coated with flour. Preheat your oven to 425°F.
      Dough for homemade french bread recipe on floured baking sheet
    8. Cut your dough in half. This will make two large loaves of French bread. Cut into four if you would like four smaller loaves.
      Cutting the dough in half for instant pot bread recipe
    9. Shape each loaf and score the tops of each one using a knife.
      cutting lines into instant pot french bread dough
      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.
      brushing egg wash on the top of homemade french bread dough
    10. 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!
      After baking homemade french bread recipe - two loaves on a baking sheet

    How to Freeze Bread

    1. Allow freshly baked bread to cool completely before freezing.
    2. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and then again in freezer paper or aluminum foil.
    3. 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 make french bread - Two loaves of homemade french bread with some slices of bread

    How to Thaw Bread

    1. 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.

    1. To freeze dough, use double the yeast listed in this recipe.
    2. 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.
    3. Remove it from the baking sheet or pan, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap.
    4. 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.

    How to make french bread - Dough proofing in the instant pot

    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.

    • two halves of mushroom grilled cheese stacked on top of each other
      Mushroom Grilled Cheese
    • Two bowls of leftover ham soup, a close up of one
      Ham Soup
    • Chick-fil-A Chicken Noodle Soup (Copycat Recipe)
      Chick-fil-A Chicken Noodle Soup

    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!

    How to make french bread - Slices of homemade french bread with butter

    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!

    Save the Video Pin 📌

    💬 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
    Reviewer photo of two loaves of french bread with a 5 star rating and the text "Turned out so good!" with their Pinterest username, @csinmedhat

    📋 Recipe

    close up of four slices of instant pot bread recipe

    Easy Instant Pot Bread Recipe

    Isabel Laessig
    The flavor and texture of this Instant Pot Bread is so perfect, you'll wonder where this simple, quick bread recipe has been your whole life!
    4.62 from 18 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Rising Time 40 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins
    Course bread
    Cuisine American
    Servings 2 loaves
    Calories 1518 kcal

    Equipment

    • 6 qt. Instant Pot

    Ingredients
      

    • 1½ tablespoons quick rise yeast
    • ½ cup warm water + 2 additional cups
    • ½ tablespoon sugar +1 additional tablespoon
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil + 1 additional tablespoon
    • 2¼ teaspoons salt
    • 6 cups flour
    • 1 egg white for egg wash
    Cooking Conversions

    See our Cooking Conversions Chart for help converting measurements!

    Instructions
     

    • In a medium mixing bowl, combine ½ cup warm water, 1½ 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.
      Yeast rising for instant pot bread recipe
    • Add 6 cups flour, 2¼ teaspoons salt, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 2 cups of water to a large mixing bowl.
      Mixing flour for instant pot bread recipe
    • Once it’s bubbly, combine your yeast mixture with the flour mixture. Mix together until you can roll the dough easily into a ball with your hands without it sticking.
      Mixing yeast into flour mixture for instant pot bread recipe
    • 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.
      Mixing the dough for homemade bread recipe
    • 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.
      dough for instant pot bread recipe in pot
    • Once 40 minutes is up, your dough will be ready to transfer to a surface coated with flour. Preheat your oven to 425°F.
      Dough for homemade french bread recipe on floured baking sheet
    • Cut your dough in half. 
      Cutting the dough in half for instant pot bread recipe
    • Shape each loaf and score the tops of each one using a knife.
      cutting lines into instant pot french bread dough
    • Brush an egg wash (1 egg white) over the top of each loaf. 
      brushing egg wash on the top of homemade french bread dough
    • 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!
      After baking homemade french bread recipe - two loaves on a baking sheet

    Video

    Notes

    • To make it easier, set timers for the 10 minute, 20 minute, and 30 minute mark to remember to knead your dough in the Instant Pot.
    • This will make two large loaves of French bread. Cut your dough into four sections if you would like four smaller loaves.
    • Brushing the egg white over the top of each loaf is an important step that will help it brown and crisp up in the oven.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1518kcalCarbohydrates: 291gProtein: 42gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 2653mgPotassium: 455mgFiber: 11gSugar: 4gVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 62mgIron: 18mg
    Keyword bread recipes, instant pot bread, instant pot bread recipe, instant pot recipes
    Did you try this recipe?Tag #SundaySupper on social and leave a comment below!
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    Isabel, AKA Family Foodie

    About Isabel Laessig

    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!

    » About Me

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Judy Lane says

      May 12, 2020 at 7:25 pm

      How do you do sour dough starter in instant pot?

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        May 15, 2020 at 2:11 pm

        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.

        Reply
    2. Paula says

      August 12, 2020 at 1:45 pm

      No yogurt button on my instapot. Is there any substitute?

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        August 13, 2020 at 11:43 am

        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!

        Reply
    3. Loraine says

      February 07, 2021 at 11:59 pm

      5 stars
      This bread was delicious and easy to make. The pictures were very helpful. I may never buy french bread again!

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        February 08, 2021 at 5:19 pm

        Loraine, thank you! We’re so glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    4. Abbey says

      March 25, 2021 at 3:45 pm

      After hitting the yogurt button, what do you press next? I just got a InstaPot and am not familiar with the settings.

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        March 29, 2021 at 10:55 am

        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!

        Reply

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