Learn how to make bread dough that keeps in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. This easy four-ingredient dough is great to have on hand so you can bake a fresh loaf of bread whenever you want. If you've never made homemade bread this is a great recipe to try.
Refrigerator Bread Dough
Refrigerator Bread DoughOften my friends and family ask me if making homemade bread is hard. Of course, the answer is "it depends" because every recipe is different and it depends on the type you want to make.
So, I always share this easy refrigerator dough when a new baker wants to try making their own. You only need four ingredients and one bowl to make it. Then you just stick it in the refrigerator. Once it proofs, you can use it for up to two weeks.
I first found this recipe from Zoe Bakes who is the author of the cookbook Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. I couldn't believe how easy it is. Instead of mixing dough, kneading it, waiting for it to rise and then baking it you just mix all the ingredients and leave it in the refrigerator to proof.
Doing it this way takes longer, but it's all hands-off time. After 24 hours the dough is ready and you can use it to make loaves or rolls for up to two weeks.
If you are new to baking with yeast this is the perfect recipe to start with - it really is so easy to make.
Ingredients You'll Need
- All-purpose flour
- Salt
- Active dry yeast
- Lukewarm water (100F to 105F)
For the yeast, double-check the expiration date before you use it. Old yeast doesn't work as well (or at all). Also, be sure your water is not too hot otherwise it might kill the yeast.
Two Easy Steps to Make It
The first time I made this bread I had doubts it would work - it's almost too easy - but, rest assured, it works.
First, whisk the flour, salt and yeast together in a bowl. Add the water and mix until completely combined.
Be sure to check there is no dry flour on the bottom of the bowl.
Place the dough in a large bowl, cover it loosely with plastic wrap, and let it sit out at room temperature for two hours. Then, refrigerate it for five to 24 hours before using it.
The best part about this dough is that you can bake it whenever you want for up to two weeks. So, you can make a large loaf or bake smaller loaves or rolls - it's up to you.
The bread bakes up just like those artisan loaves you see at the grocery store, but yours will taste so much better. There's nothing better than a loaf of fresh-baked bread especially when it's this easy to make. Enjoy!
What to make with this refrigerator dough
Once you have made the refrigerator dough you might want to try these delicious recipes.
Stay tuned for a ways to use this dough! Take care everyone.
Refrigerator Bread Dough
Ingredients
- 6 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 ½ tablespoons active dry yeast
- 3 cups lukewarm water (100-105F / 40C)
Instructions
- In the bowl of the mixer whisk together the flour, salt and yeast, then add the water and with the flat beaters* beat until completely combined, make sure there is not flour at the bottom of the bowl. Place the dough in a large bowl, cover loosely with plastic wrap, let sit at room temperature for 2 hours, then refrigerate for 5-24 hours before using. The dough will last up to 2 weeks in the fridge.
Jean says
I am very eager to try this recipe but do not have a free standing mixer. All I have is a hand held. I can all the steps be done by hand?
Rosemary Molloy says
Hi Jean, yes, no problem you can mix the flour and water together with your hands or even a spatula, just make sure you get all the flour incorporated. It will be a wettish dough. I hope you enjoy it. Take care.
Emelle says
Love this recipe! Makes the perfect size loaf for 3 or 4 days. I've shared it with many friends who now also enjoy the ease of having fresh, tasty bread readily available. I'm hoping you'll have more options of how to use it in the future.
I do have a few questions: when first mixed, the dough is to sit out for 2 hours before placing in the fridge. I find that it rises quickly and could overflow the bowl if I'm not careful (yes, I realise I could put it in a larger bowl but this one is quite large and my refrigerator isn't). Is it supposed to rise this much before moving to the refrigerator? What is the benefit of leaving at room temperature for this length of time and would it be detrimental to the recipe if I moved it to the refrigerator in less than the 2 hours, to help slow the proofing? Thank you for the recipes on both of your sites, one of the first ones I check when I'm looking for great and easy recipe ideas.
Rosemary Molloy says
Hi Emelle, thanks so much, the dough should really rise at room temperature, it needs to rise then start to fall and then refrigerate. So yes it might effect the outcome if you skip or alter this time. What if you used 2 small bowls and made half the recipe in each? I spent the last little while working on sourdough bread but now you have been interested in this bread again, so I think I will look into making more recipes with it. So stay tuned. Take care. Have a great week.
Emelle says
Rosemary, thank you for the quick response and explaining the purpose of the initial rise. I will include this added time moving forward and yes, I'll start by making it in a larger bowl and transfer to one that won't overtake the interior of my fridge once the 2 hours is up! Sometimes the simplest resolution is the hardest to see. It's such a great recipe for beginners and I look forward to sharing other ways to use the dough.
Rosemary Molloy says
Hi Emelle, yes it's so true about the simplest resolution. I will share the recipes as soon as they are done. Take care.
Linda Hensley says
Hi Rosemary. I saw where someone was wanting to make hamburger buns and you told her yes, just make smaller rolls. Well I have a weight scale. What weight do you think would be good for a hamburger roll? I was also wondering if I could make breadsticks with this dough. I am almost thru with my skillet bread and ready to start on my new batch of dough. Oh and you were right again. My skillet bread tasted very yeasty.
Rosemary Molloy says
Hi Linda, I would say the weight for the hamburger buns be between 75-80 grams for normal size buns. And yes I think breadsticks is a great idea. Let me know how it goes. Was the skillet bread edible though? Take care.
Linda Hensley says
Lol. Actually the bread was edible. I haven’t had a beer in years so I am not sure about it but the bread reminds me of beer. Probably because of all the yeast I put in it . I will definitely let you know how the breadsticks turn out. Thank you so much for your expertise. I got a new stand mixer recently and I have been baking like crazy since
Christmas. After the hamburger buns and breadsticks, I am going to make Pumpernickel.
Rosemary Molloy says
Hi Linda, I love beer 🙂 so I probably would have liked it. Nothing like a stand up mixer! Pumpernickel is one of my favourite breads. Let me know how it goes.
Linda Hensley says
This is such a learning experience. I used the recipe to make hamburger buns with the weight you suggested. And yes the dough is very sticky but I did manage 8 buns. Well 1 recipe I read said let rise until about 3” high. Not understanding why and after 2 hours waiting, I baked them. They were a little puffy but not 3”. I cooked 2 hamburger patties and it was not until the second one did I realize you were supposed to cut the buns in half! My dough did not brown up but the bread is delicious. Still learning Rosemary.
Rosemary Molloy says
Hi Linda, of course it just takes time and patience and it all comes together. 3 inches sounds like a lot to me. Brush them with some milk or an egg wash (1 tablespoon water or milk and 1 egg, beaten together) that should help them brown on top.
Linda Hensley says
Oh my gosh I misread and added 3-1/2 tbsp yeast. Any suggestions anyone?????
Rosemary Molloy says
Hi Linda, so sorry to hear that, but I really don't think it will work you should really start over. This much yeast will give the bread a very yeasty taste and it won't brown properly.
Linda G Hensley says
Hi Rosemary. Thank you for responding. I will start over but since I already have the dough in the fridge, I am going to try a skillet bread. Horrible waste of yeast and flour but I just got in too much of a hurry.
Rosemary Molloy says
Hi Linda, yes sorry to hear about that, let me know how the skillet bread is.
Linda Hensley says
Rosemary you were right. It did not brown properly, even putting it under the broiler for a few minutes. Don’t know what it tastes like yet because I just took it out and it’s cooling now. But it smells heavenly!!!
Rosemary Molloy says
Hi Linda, that's too bad, at least it smells good, hopefully it doesn't taste too bad. Let me know. 🙂
Linda Hensley says
Hey girl the bread with too much yeast is very good! But I have your recipe on the counter now waiting to go in the fridge . Thank you very much,
Rosemary Molloy says
Hey Linda, that's great, I think you will like the correct yeast one even more, let me know how that goes. Take care, have a great week.
Fred says
Hi Rosemary, how long do you leave the dough out before cooking, what temperature do you cook the bread at & for how long?
Rosemary Molloy says
Hi Fred, in the instruction to make the bread I have 3 recipes that you can make with it that explain exactly how to use it. A regular bread, a cheese bread and a flat bread, https://allthingsbread.com/white-bread/ , https://allthingsbread.com/cheese-bread/ and https://allthingsbread.com/flat-bread/. I hope this helps, let me know.
Susan says
Hi, I was wondering if you greased the bowl and cover before putting it in the fridge.
Rosemary Molloy says
Hi Susan, no I didn't grease the bowl, and I didn't find that the dough stuck. You could very lightly oil the bowl if you want but it isn't necessary.
Celeste Davis says
i live in Mexico and this totally curbs our bread craving! Mexican breads and rolls are quite different. Made this batch two times. So simple. Makes amazing Cinnamon rolls. i have to bake in a small toaster oven, so make two sandwich size rolls everyday. Love it!
Question: The outside is quite firm and chewy. Any tips for a softer crust?
Rosemary Molloy says
Hi Celeste, thanks so much, so glad I could help. Cinnamon rolls, what a delicious idea. I don't know if you add ice cubes or a hot water pan to the oven, but that can create a firmer crust, so if you do, eliminate that and it should help. You can also try putting a damp (not soaking wet) towel on the loaf when you pull it out of the oven. Hope that helps. Have a great week.
Donna says
Putting bread in a plastic bag after it cools completely will soften the crust. Also you can brush crust with butter when it comes out of the oven.
Rosemary Molloy says
Hi Donna, thanks for the information!
Mamta says
Amazing bread recipe.Reminded me of the lovely bread I had during my Europe trip.
Thank you so much for this easy recipe.😊
Rosemary Molloy says
Hi Mamta, thanks so much so glad you liked it. Have a great weekend.
nancy perdue says
I need recipe for making hamburger buns. My friend had a recipe that she made and then put it in fridge just like the bread recipe but it was for buns. Then whenever she wanted to make a couple of buns she just pulled off some dough and that was it.
Rosemary Molloy says
Hi Nancy you can use this recipe for buns, just form small bun shapes rather than a loaf.
Marilyn Bain says
This is exactly what I was looking for. I add raw bran and seeds and its bursting with flavor. Makes fabulous rolls also. I enjoy your website. Thank you for it!
Marilyn
Rosemary Molloy says
Hi Marilyn thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed it. Have a great weekend.
Ellen L Balaam says
Can you add sugar to this recipe without affecting the proofing?
Rosemary Molloy says
Hi Ellen you can add the sugar with the flour, salt and yeast, it should not affect the proofing. Let me know how it goes.
Dianne says
Is the dough covered while in the fridge and, if so, is it covered tightly or loosely?
Rosemary Molloy says
Hi Diane, I cover mine loosely while in the fridge.
Rachel says
Hello, I just found your website and am excited to try your recipes!
I mixed this one up night before last, let it sit out two hours and then put it in the fridge. I took out a pound today to make a loaf and it was smelling rather pungent and almost fruity. I think it may have overproofed? Any thoughts about this? Should I be watching it and put it in the fridge as soon as it doubles? Or should I cut down the yeast? What does yours look like right before you put it in the fridge? Mine was big and bubbly/spongy already, didn't look like a large dough ball anymore.
Rosemary Molloy says
Hi Rachel, thanks so much, I think it's fine, I don't think it has overproofed and yes it does loosen up as it sits. Let me know how the finished loaf turns out.
Rachel says
Thanks for the reply. It turned out delicious! Wonderfully soft, springy and chewy inside, and tastes really great. I also love the convenience of being and to prepare the dough whenever I have time and then pull some of it out during the week when I need it.
Rosemary Molloy says
Hi Rachel, thanks so much, and yes that is the best part, being able to make fresh bread when needed. Take care and have a wonderful weekend.
Donna says
This is a beautiful recipe. Thank you for sharing!
Rosemary Molloy says
Hi Donna, thanks so much. Have a great weekend.
sanaya says
Can u do this with whole wheat or gluten free flour
Rosemary Molloy says
Hi Sanaya, if you want to use whole wheat you should actually use half whole wheat and half all purpose or bread flour, only whole wheat will make it very heavy. For gluten free I really don't know because I don't bake with gluten free flour. 🙂
Kathryn Finnegan says
Can you do this with sour dough starter
Rosemary Molloy says
Hi Kathryn, no you can't because that is a totally recipe.
Sue says
There is no baking instructions. Please provide.
Rosemary Molloy says
Hi Sue, on the post at the bottom I list 3 recipes you can make with the refrigerator bread dough. Hope that helps. Thanks
Shelly Day says
I don't see the b aking instructions: temp of oven, for how long?
thx
Rosemary Molloy says
Hi Shelly at the end of the post I link to 3 recipes that are made with refrigerator dough. Hope that helps.