Bread Machine White Bread: A simple homemade loaf that easily beats store-bought bread. Only five ingredients and the result is tender, flavorful, and versatile.
This White Bread Machine Bread is a family recipe we’ve used for more than twenty years. It’s straightforward, requires common pantry staples, and produces a reliably soft, delicious loaf every time.
Using a bread machine makes the process effortless—no manual kneading and no fussing with multiple rising bowls. The machine mixes, kneads, and proofs the dough for you. If your machine has a removable paddle, it will come away from the loaf after a short rest so your finished bread has a clean bottom.
For best results use all-purpose flour; Bob’s Red Mill is a brand that works well for this recipe. During the initial mixing stage, watch the dough. If it looks too stiff or dry, add a tablespoon of water at a time until the dough becomes smooth and slightly tacky. A properly baked loaf should rise above the bread pan rim slightly and have a light, even crumb.
Bread Ingredients:
- All-purpose flour (I used Bob’s Red Mill)
- Fine salt
- Grapeseed oil (or other neutral vegetable oil)
- Cold water
- Instant dry yeast
How to Make White Bread in a Bread Machine:
1. Do not plug the bread machine in. Add 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour to the bread machine pan first. Add 1 teaspoon fine salt and 1 tablespoon oil. Pour in 1 3/4 cups (about 410 ml) cold water. Place 1 teaspoon instant dry yeast in the yeast dispenser or in a small well on top of the flour. If your machine has no separate yeast compartment, add the yeast on top of the other ingredients in the pan.
2. Plug in the bread machine and select the settings: size XL (or the largest loaf option), Basic bread cycle, and Medium crust color. The cycle takes about 4 hours.
3. When the cycle finishes, leave the loaf in the machine for 10–15 minutes before removing it. This pause helps the kneading paddle (the “butterfly”) release from the bottom of the loaf so it comes out cleaner. Turn the pan upside down and gently remove the bread. Wrap the warm loaf in plastic wrap and cover with a towel while it cools to keep the crust soft. Once cooled, slice and store in a resealable bag in the refrigerator for up to a week or freeze for longer storage. Enjoy fresh slices with butter, sandwiches, or toast.
More Bread Recipes to Explore:
- Apple Blueberry Honey Bread Recipe + Video
- Banana Berries Bread Recipe + Video
- French Bread Buns
- Raspberry Pecan Honey Bread
White Bread Machine Bread
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Ingredients
- 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (I use Bob’s Red Mill)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 3/4 cups cold water (410 ml)
- 1 teaspoon instant dry yeast
Instructions
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Don’t plug in your bread machine yet. Place 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour into the bread machine basket. Add 1 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon oil, then 1 3/4 cups (410 ml) cold water. Put 1 teaspoon instant yeast into the yeast hole or on top of the flour if your machine has no separate dispenser. Plug the machine in and select XL size, Basic cycle, and Medium crust. The cycle takes about 4 hours.
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When the loaf finishes, leave it in the pan for 10–15 minutes so the kneading paddle releases. Remove the bread, wrap it in plastic, and cover with a towel while it cools to keep it soft. Slice and store in a resealable bag for up to a week.