Rye bread

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Rye bread

Easy recipe for 100% rye bread

Rye is delicious, it's nutritious, it's terrific if you are on a diet or need to be on a low GI diet because it's a very slow release carb. Rye does not have to resemble the black squares of pumpernickel that comes in shrink – wrapped blocks on supermarket shelves.
Go on, give this a try. It's fun to make and trust me, it's delicious!
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Cook Time 45 mins
Servings 12 slices

Equipment

  • scale, bowl, spoon, baking tin

Ingredients
  

  • 300 grams dark or light rye flour or a mixture
  • 250 grams water from the tap
  • 6 grams salt
  • 1.5 grams instant yeast or 3 grams dry yeast or 6 g fresh yeast
  • 1 tsp ground coriander Optional
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin Optional
  • 2 handfuls sunflower or pumpkin or flax seeds (or a mixture) soaked overnight in water Optional
  • 2-3 tbs honey or molasses or malt syrup Optional

Instructions
 

  • Measure the water into a big bowl and add the yeast. Let it sit for 10 minutes to dissolve.
  • Add the flour and the salt and any of the other ingredients you are using.
  • Stir together until it is well mixed.
  • Grease a bread tin with a hard fat (butter or lard work best).
  • Wet your hand thoroughly and pick up the dough. Shape it into a sausage shape the size of the tin. Pick up the tin and place the sausage in the tin gently. Don't push down! Just place it in and leave it. The dough will fill the tin itself and does not need to be squashed into the corners. See below for a video on how to do that.
  • You can sprinkle some rye flour on the surface of the dough if you like. Cover the tin with a shower hat – raise the surface of the hat above the dough so that when the dough rises, it does not stick to the hat. Leave it for 2-5 hours – it depends on the heat in the kitchen. Don't try to speed it up by placing it in an overly warm place as rye does not like to be too warm. Check it every once in a while. Rye is ready for the oven when there are little holes all over the surface. Keep your nerve and wait for that point.
  • Heat the oven to 200 degrees C. You can decorate the top of the loaf with seeds or a sprinkle of flour. Pop it in and bake for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and remove from tin. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
  • Rye is best eaten the next day and will certainly last for 3-4 days.
  • Eat. Yum.

Video

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

118 thoughts on “Rye bread”

  1. Deborah Brack

    This recipe looks awesome and easy for first time bread baker. My question though is you call for the oven to be set at 200 degrees I’m wondering if you mean 200 Celsius? Thank you so much and hope my bread is a success.

    Deborah

      1. Deborah Brack

        Thank you so much. I live in British Columbia, Canada and I’m still baking in Fahrenheit! I am so looking forward to trying your recipe and I love that it doesn’t call for sugar as I’m diabetic.

        Deborah

  2. Moni

    I’ve made this bread for the first time and it is delicious. By far the best rye bread I’ve had. Thank you!

  3. Darran

    Hi, sounds really great, i’m going to make it this weekend, please could you tell me how the yeast work because no sugar is added to feed the yeast so it can rise.

    thanks in advance

    1. virtuousbread

      Dear Darran

      you don’t need sugar to make the yeast work! sugar makes it work faster but there is enough sugar in the flour to keep the yeast happy! it’s a kind of instruction from the 1950s for the busy housewife (like leaving the bread in the airing cupboard which it does not need either!) Good luck and let us know how it goes. We love photos too!

  4. Darran

    My first attempt was not very good. The bread tasted fantastic, but it did not rise very well, my fault, the dough was too stiff, I will definitely be making it again, next time I think I will make the dough wetter. What should the consistency be of the dough.

  5. Rachel

    Oh, I wish you had a link to this page from the page with the recipe on it !
    Or better still, maybe you could edit that page to mention the problem with instant yeast… I have a loaf failing to rise right now!
    Ah well. I’ll leave it overnight… if it comes to life I will leave another comment.

    Thanks for a super website – lots more recipes to try.

  6. Dina

    Hi,
    the recipe sounds realy easy, however I have a bread machin which suppose to make this process even easier.
    can I do this bread in the bread machine?

  7. Haidee

    There seems to be minimal mixing and no kneading in this recipe. Also only one rise seems a little odd, as most recipes require 2 rises. I’ve been waiting for my dough to rise for almost 3 hours now, and there has been next to no movement…wondering if something is awry…

  8. Steve Taylor

    I am just about to try this recipe. It looks excellent. Can you confirm that 250g of water (or other liquid) means 250 fluid ounces? I don’t think I have ever had to weigh water before!

    Steve

    1. virtuousbread

      Hello Steve – 250 grams is the same as 250 mls and is NOT the same as 250 oz. Hope this helps! Weighing water is more accurate than measuring it in a jug but as bread is not a science and you will have to adjust manually in any case (remember – WERY WET dough) using a jug is perfectly fine!

  9. Alisa

    Happy to have found this breadmaking blog & great site!!

    I only use rye flour and shape them into about 36 rolls. After I let them rise for an hour they are all sticking together, which is good. The last few times I didn’t let the dough rise a second time which resulted in extremely hard crusted rolls that were too difficult to even bite into !

    My questions are:
    1. Is it necessary to preheat the oven ?
    2. How do I know when the rolls are ready i.e. cooked inside? Sometimes I think there are ready but then when we cut into them, they are not cooked inside.
    3. Since they are rolls, is the cooking time less and at what temperature in celsius? It seems that preheating the oven creates a hard crust. We prefer a softer crust but want the rolls to be cooked inside.

    Hope you reply whenever you can and thank you so much for your tips.

    Alisa

    Your comment is awaiting moderation.

    1. virtuousbread

      Dear Alisa

      thank you for the message! Rye can be tricky and well done you for making the rye rolls. The trick with rye is to make the oven as hot as possible. That way the crusts forms as quickly as possible (and is as thin as possible). The other trick with rye is to eat them the day after they are baked. Rye is necessarily a wet dough (or else the bread is cement) and it bakes “sticky” so just wait 24 hours! I would put the oven up to 230 if you can get it that high and bake the rolls for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 200 and bake for a further 10. They will sound slightly hollow when you tap their bottoms (but not as hollow as wheat bread.)

      Let me know!

  10. Alisa

    Happy to let you know that your advice is perfect !

    I preheated the oven to 220, using a turbot fan, baked the rolls for 10 minutes. Then I reduced the heat to 190 and baked for another 35 minutes, not 10 as you suggested 🙂

    So pleased that the crust is chewy & easy to bite into with the inside cooked with a dry texture .

    P.S. Forgot to mention in my previous post that I scatter sunflower seeds on the bottom of the baking pan. That way the sunflower seeds stick to the bottom of the rolls and prevent the rolls from sticking to the pan.

    Thank you so much for your quick reply and am looking forward to learning more bread-making tips here on this wonderful site !

    Cheers, Alisa

  11. Alisa

    Thanks for your advice. My last batch of rye rolls were close to perfection. I let them rise in the baking pan for an hour until they all touched each other and then baked them in a cold convection oven(with fan) for 35-40 minutes at 225C 🙂

  12. Steve Taylor

    I wrote recently asking for clarification about water quantities. My query now is that having made 4 loaves each with varying degrees of success, my main concern is that the loaf is still “doughy” inside. My son called it “cakey”. I read a few of the messages above and I see that you say the bread can be “sticky” and the remedy seems to be to wait 24 hours or so before eating. I’ll try that approach but is there anything else I could alter e.g. the yeast. I’m using Allison’s “active yeast”. I note your view that “instant yeasts” just don’t seem to work as well. Is “active” the same as “instant”? Despite the cakey texture everyone says the bread tastes great – especially toasted!

    Kind regards, Steve.

    1. virtuousbread

      Hi Steve

      thanks for this. in order to NOT be like cement, the dough does need to be wet which means the inside is doughy if you cut into it too early. I usually wait two full days! The other thing is to check your oven temp and maybe start the bread high (like 230 degrees) for 10 minutes and then reduce the temp to 200 and bake for a further 30 mins. You could bake it at 230 for 25-30 mins too but watch the top and cover it with foil if it is getting too brown. I am so pleased you are persevering! Alinsons’s active (yellow tin) is different from Alisons “easy bake” (green tin). I prefer the yellow tin – the one you have to let sit for 15 minutes with the water before you mix all the other ingredients in! Let me know how trying a higher temp in the oven works and do get an over thermometer (or borrow one) just to check your temp!

  13. Clive Somerville

    I’ve recently converted to 100% rye bread as the only bread in my life and it’s amazing – I’ve been making my own using your method and consistency of bake as the template for my sourdough! 1/2 starter, 1/2 flour – It makes an amazing loaf. I use a much slower bake though – 1hr @ 170, 30min @ 150, all with a tinfoil hat. It makes a scandi-esque loaf!

    I’m short on time tonight and wanted fruit loaf for the morning so I’ve made your bread with the added extras: 1 tblsp marmalade, 2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tblsp oil and two handfuls of sultanas and a good grate of nutmeg – about to go in the oven, faithful to your 200 for 45 minutes, I’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow!

    I’ve proselytised enough to get my mother to make a loaf a week using your recipe, she loves it too. Thanks for the e-help!!!!!!!!!

    1. virtuousbread

      Dear CLive

      thank you so much for your comment – I love it! You are so kind to write and I bet your mum is happy you have bullied her too! Rye is my absolute favourite and I eat it all the time. Love the slower bake too – does it result in a thicker crust, a dryer or wetting inside? Do tell and photos please! ALso, try it with ground cardomom sometime and a spoon of honey or molasses. Delish!

  14. Steve Taylor

    Success at last! I tried your suggestions about using a high heat to begin with and a lower temp to finish. The result is a much drier loaf but still with a close texture and great taste.
    I made a 500g loaf using that amount of rye flour. I added 13g of Allison’s active yeast (yellow tin) to the “well” and let it soak in 120mls of water for about 15 mins. I then added 6g of salt (I don’t like to use too much salt) and approx. 300mls of water. I made the dough in the way you suggest passing from wet hand to wet hand and plonked it in a silicone loaf tin. I baked at 230 for 20 minutes, covered with tin foil (the crust was very brown) and baked for another 40 minutes at 180. I left the loaf until today (2 days of torture I can tell you!) but it was all worthwhile. Everyone who has enjoyed a slice or two has said it’s just about perfect. I shall cook and eat nothing else!
    Kind regards and thanks, Steve

    1. virtuousbread

      that is just marvellous! I am pleased. With rye, I always think 2 days in advance so once you get into a routine, you will always have it! You may want to cut your yeast down to about 5 grams. Seriously. The dough will take longer to rise – between 3-5 hours depending on how cold the kitchen it (try it all day or over night in the fridge and then just pop it in the oven) but it will taste better and be even better for you.

  15. Alisa

    @virtuousbread, success also with my rye rolls lately!

    Your advice about high heat works 🙂 The only difference
    is I put the rolls into a cold convection oven at 225C and bake them for 40 minutes. I don’t turn down the heat during the whole baking process.
    When the rolls are done I take them out & place a clean towel over them so steam softens the crust.

    The end result is perfect rolls that have a thin crust and are dry and cooked inside. They freeze beautifully & taste like they were freshly baked if defrosted at room temperature, not heated in the microwave oven.

    Kind regards and thanks, Alisa

  16. Andrew

    Great recipe. I am new to bread making, and I am wondering if it is it possible to make a larger rye loaf than the 500g one specified? If it is, can you please tell me what needs to be done differently?
    Thanks for your help
    Andrew

    1. virtuousbread

      Dear Andrew

      thank you for your message. Just scale up the recipe to whatever size you need. Double it or multiply by 1.5. I have found that, unlike wheat bread, a bigger rye loaf can take a wee bit longer to bake. And, start the oven off higher – like 230 degrees – for the first 10 minutes and then reduce it to 200. That normally does the trick. Let use know!

  17. Emma

    I tried this recipe the other day using Dove’s rye flour and Allinson’s active dry yeast (yellow tin) – both freshly purchased last week – and the dough did not rise at all.

    I came to one of your bread making sessions ages ago and made a wholemeal loaf; thus I remember the whole process of making the well for the yeast and so on, but have not had any joy when trying to bake a loaf on my own!

    Should the yeast be activated in warm water separately?

    Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
    Many thanks

    1. virtuousbread

      Yes – with yellow tin (dry active) yeast you must “proof” it in some of the water for 15 minutes first. When it is dissolved, add all the other ingredients and knead and follow the instructions. Yellow tin yeast needs this extra step!

  18. evie

    I have a wheat allergy and am very happy to find this recipe. I am wondering how long I can keep this on the counter after making ( you mentioned it is best eaten 1-2 days after making) and should I cover it with something? is it okay to keep this on the counter in warm weather? also the baking temperature which is 200 degrees.. is that 200F or 200C? THanks!!

  19. evie

    you also mentioned that 6 g of yeast is needed. is that 3 grams of active dry yeast or instant yeast? thanks!! can’t wait to make this!

    1. virtuousbread

      Hi there – sorry for late response but I see you have had a go. You need 6 g fresh OR 3 g dry active OR 1.5 g instant. With rye, in all cases it helps to dissolve the yeast in water first (following instructions for active dry yeast) as it helps the yeast get going. Don’t get too technical – just pop in a teaspoon of yeast!

  20. David

    Hello I want to cook this lovely looking recipe. I have a question?

    What yeast manufacturer do you use? I’ve looked at loads of yeasts I am confused! Its confusing when you read the descriptions of the different yeasts! Especially instant yeast and dried yeast.

    The yeast I was thinking of using is Allinson Dried Active Baking Yeast.

  21. Julie

    I followed the recipe but my loaf was very hard, heavy and doughy, what could i have done wrong?

    1. virtuousbread

      Hi there

      ok, a couple of things:

      1. check your oven temp to make sure it’s working properly
      2. the dough really REALLY should be very wet – so wet you can barely pick the dough up to shape it and put it in the tin
      3. take the time to proof the yeast – whatever type it is – to maximise your “rise”
      4. make sure it’s really risen (little bubbles ALL OVER the top of the dough in the tin)
      5. don’t eat it until the next day (or even day 2)

      let me know!

      all else fails, come and take a course with us!

  22. Julie

    Thank you for your advice. My second attempt was better but the dough did not rise much before, or after baking. I used 1tsp about 5 grams of the Allinsons dried active yeast. Left it for 15 minuntes. I left the dough to rise for 3 hours and although it rose a little it didnt rise very much. I baked it for 10 mins at 230 then at 200 for 30 mins. It tastes good and the texture is ok but it just didnt rise. Any tips?

    1. virtuousbread

      Hi there, I know this sounds daft but rye is slow and lazy! just be patient. It could take 5 hours and if the kitchen is a bit cool it will take a long time! One minute it’s languising in the tin and the next it is at the top! Try again (do try) and just keep checking – or put it in the fridge over night or all day if you don’t want to keep checking – and it will rise eventually as long as the yeast is alive! Thank you for trying – it’s worth it – truly! Jane

  23. Martin Charlton

    Hi. My rye bread comes out with the crust hard and tasty, separating from the centre, soft and sticky. Is this the oven temperature?

    1. virtuousbread

      Hi there, this crust separation is a sign that the bread has over proofed (ie too long rising before you bake it). When you say the centre is sticky – that could partly be because the bread is collapsing (over proofing) and so there are not a lot of air holes to help it bake. It could be oven temp/time in oven. Do check your oven temperature with a thermometer and also remember that rye IS sticky because the dough is so wet. It’s best cut into 24-48 hours after baking. Let me know how it goes!

  24. Zac Astrain

    Hello, I’m curious If you have tried making this Rye Bread recipe with sour dough/wild yeast. I noticed the Rye bread recipe recommends 1.5 g instant yeast or 3 g dry yeast or 6 g fresh yeast.

    How many grams(g) of sourdough starter(wild yeast} would be recommended for this Rye Bread recipe?

    Other than a 1 lb / 500 g bread tin , will a 5.5 lb. / 2,750 g Staub cocotte or French oven (enameled iron with lid) be suitable for this recipe?

  25. Eve

    Hi there, Thanks for the detailed recipe!

    Just wondering is it possible to add molasses/malt into the mixture to make it dark. Would this ‘destroy’ the light and airy texture this recipe called for?

    Many thanks in advance!

    1. virtuousbread

      hi there, not at all. The bread is super light whether or not you use molasses or honey or malt. I use maximum 50 g and when I say “light” i mean in texture, not in colour!

  27. tbaker

    Hi,
    Love your site and all the comments, but I live in the U. S. and am unused to your types of measuring & heating. Any suggestions other than just ‘doing the math’.

  28. Eibhlin

    Hi! I’m just about to make my first attempt at making this bread however after reading all the comments above I’m a bit confused by the yeast!! I’ve bought the brand Allinson but it just says “easy bake yeast” is this instant or dry??

  29. sofika

    Hi! I tried making this bread but i had a problem.the bread did rise while i was waiting for about 2 and a half hour. Then when i baked it didnt rise but fell i the middle. What could have happened? I used instant yeast.

    1. virtuousbread

      Hello, lots of things could have happened. It could have over proofed (but you would have noticed really big holes in the top of the loaf before baking it) or your oven it not up to temperature, baking at too low a heat could have caused that. Do you recognise that either of those could be the problem?

    1. virtuousbread

      Dear Elena, thank you for that. I think you will find – and this is the joy of bread – that there are many ways to make pumpernickel and many different shades of brown! The very very black pumpernickel really does have molasses! Malt syrup is just not dark enough to give it that. Other varieties do not have it! Thank you again!

  31. Abe

    Thank you! In the middle of a 3 day sourdough and needed some bread. Found your recipe and looked good so tried it adding honey and caraway seeds. Really delicious. I’ll certainly be making this again.

  32. Kate

    Hi there, this recipe looked great because I recently found out I am allergic to wheat and I so miss eating bread! The bread rose beautifully.However, when I uncovered it, it shrank a bit. I put it in the oven for 400 degrees F and took it out 45 minutes later and it shrank quite a bit, cooked on the outside, but was still very wet on the inside. I lowered the temperature and am cooking it 15-30 more minutes hoping the inside will cook because I want bread :). What do you think I did wrong? Maybe I should not have uncovered the rising bread until I put it in the oven?

    1. virtuousbread

      Hi there, not sure why it shrank. Perhaps it was in fact OVER prooved? Check your oven temperature with a good thermometer and if it’s not up to temp, get it calibrated. If you are desperate, put it up as high as it can go, put the bread in and then reduce it to 200 (400) or even 220 (425). Rye takes some getting used to and fiddling sometimes. Remember don’t cut into it until it is at least 24 if not 48 hours old. It has to dry out. It will always have a sticky texture and some people don’t like that. It’s never dry like wheat bread it. Let me know how it turns out next!

  33. Clairebelle

    I have seen a question about this recipe in a bread maker but could not find a reply? I tried it yesterday on the Gluten Free setting but it collapsed in the middle 🙁 I know you don’t use a bread machine but would the quantities be any different do you think? I tired to use a program with little kneading as I know Rye Flour doesn’t need kneading!
    Many thanks,
    Clairebelle

    1. virtuousbread

      Hi Claire and thanks for writing

      I have never made this in a bread machine (never used a bread machine so a very bad person to respond…). Indeed you don’t have to knead it so you may as well try in the oven? What does the bread machine instruction say? Jane

  34. Clairebelle

    Hi, thank you for your reply. I did have another go using the quick Wholewheat program which has a 15 min rest followed by a short mix then a longer proving time and cooking tome. It was a 3 hour program rather than a 2 hour and, although it has slightly collapsed in the middle it was much improved on my last attempt and totally delicious 🙂 🙂 x

  35. Karen

    Hi, thanks for this recipe. I’ve made this tonight for the first time, it’s very easy to make. It didn’t rise very much, I put it in the airing cupboard to rise for just over 2 hours (our kitchen is very cold, I was worried it wouldn’t rise). Having read the comments above I wonder if the dough wasn’t wet enough. Also I think the crust is very hard (I haven’t cut it yet, trying to wait 48 hours! ), I baked it at 200 deg C for 45 mins, so will try with a hotter oven next time.

    1. virtuousbread

      and how was it? If it did not rise very much, just leave it longer. Remember it’s when there are little holes all over the top of the loaf that it is ready for the oven!

  36. Kathy

    THe first time I made this bread, it did not rise at all.
    Now I have my 2nd attempt going and it is rising a little
    more than the first, but not rising to the top of the bread pan.
    I doubled the yeast. The flavor of the first loaf was good, but I would like it to rise.

    1. virtuousbread

      Hi there, I would not double the yeast – I would just be patient! Rye is slow and on a cooler day or in a cooler kitchen it can take a long time. Make sure your yeast is alive, proof it in warm water first if you want to (although you don’t have to) and just be patient. it will rise. trust me!

  37. Jill

    Just come back from spending New Year In Iceland. Sampled the most fabulous warm rye bread with winter herring. The bread had been baked in cardboard ex- milk/fruit juice containers and in the hot volcanic earth near the active geysirs for 24 hours. They use the natural geothermal heat to bake the bread. A long time to wait for a delicious loaf ,however !

  39. Mike

    I made rye bread for the first time using this recipe using Doves Farm Organic Wholemeal Rye Flour. I Was quite pleased with the results, Certainly nice and edible but not quite as light as I would of hoped for. I know a loaf like this is never going to be super light. Tonight I made another loaf but this time I added more water, probably about 310 -320grams and put it into my silicone bread tin with a mug of hot water to rise for two hours in the microwave (I did this with the first loaf). When I opened the the microwave door to my great surprise the loaf had risen to double the size. I have, I think created the perfect wholemeal rye loaf except next time I’ll put some seeds in to make it a little more healthy and tasty. Thank you very much for the recipe but I’m curious as to what rye flour you used, seeing you are in UK. Perhaps My rye flour is very dry and super absorbent, or maybe it’s because I used whole rye.

  40. Steve Lancaster

    Just to let you know that after three attempts I have got this bread to rise as it should! At first I thought it was not enough yeast or too much salt, but as you keep saying the key really is to use loads of water, much more than I’m used to with wheat bread. I needed 320ml of water to 300g of Doves Wholemeal Rye to get a really soft jelly-like dough. In fact the rise overflowed my 1lb tin so I will have to put it in a larger one next time. Thanks for the recipe, first time I’ve ever tasted a light rye bread and its lovely.

  41. joanie

    I needed the simple rye recipe in cups and ounces…tried converters but have to guess at amts…help

      1. joanie

        Thank you for the converter information, now I have to try rye bread again. My first attempt was heavy as a mill stone.

  42. Ashley

    Hi there, I’m on to my second loaf of bread and felt adventurous so I tried your wine idea.. Your instruction said to wait til the yeast fully dissolved before adding more wine/water. I’m using dry yeast and after 15 mins I could still see the yeast so I left it, got distracted and came back an hour later to find the yeast still not dissolved but mould growing. Is this normal? Will it cook out? I kept going with the instructions regardless and am now over to the next day of rising. The last bread didn’t rise much at all but I’ve read your comments saying to be patient so I’m waiting longer with this one. Thanks for all your help! I hope I can get it to work! 🙂

    1. virtuousbread

      Hi there, I am certain it is not mould but a kind of a beige sludge that will eventually form on the surface of water (wine) when you leave it long enough. An hour is not enough to grow mould so don’t worry! How did it go?

  43. Ashley

    Oh actually, I also added bi-carb to the second loaf to see when it would rise (in with the second lot of water) and that’s when I saw the mould!

  44. Ashley

    The bread turned out really nice thanks, my husband loves it. I have just adjusted it a bit to how we like it. I’m now on to my third bread and starting to feel like a professional haha.. Back to water again but the wine was a very welcome and interesting change.. You’re right by the way.. The bread does taste better a couple of days later!

  45. Piet van der Merwe

    I am going to try this recipe, my previous attemps failed totally. What about adding chillies and some garlic(just a tiny bit) for taste?

  46. Emily Johnson

    Hi, I have been scouring round the Internet for the best rye sourdough bread recipe and this is the best I’ve found that is simple, but its not a sourdough recipe. I’m trying to learn the bakers percentages as I am going into baking bread professionally, and im dyslexic. And I’m trying to get my head around the Detmolder 3 stage process. I know what I will be asking is different than your recipe because I am trying to make a sourdough using rye flour at the moment. So, my question is, can and how can I convert your recipe to use with my rye sourdough starter? I hope all of this makes sense.
    Thanks Emily

    1. virtuousbread

      Dear Emily

      hi and thanks for that. i have a sourdough receipe for rye on the website too (it is my favourite bread in the world). I understand the drag of having to read through a lot of science, but if you start here:

      I have tried to make it as “unsciencey” as possible. Then if you go here:

      http://www.virtuousbread.com/bread-and-conversation/please-dont-get-freaked-out-about-sourdough/

      and here:

      http://www.virtuousbread.com/bread-and-conversation/how-do-i-know-when-my-sourdough-is-ready-for-baking/

      You will find out how some basic info on sourdough. If you go here:

      http://www.virtuousbread.com/bread-and-conversation/making-sourdough-starters/

      you will learn to make a rye starter and if you go here:

      http://www.virtuousbread.com/how-to-make-bread/recipies/sourdough-bread-the-way-we-make-it-at-virtuousbread-com/

      there is a really easy rye sourdough recipe. Remember, there are a million ways to do anything and what I have led you to is only one way!

      Where do you live? If you are in the UK, come and take a sourdough class with us. It’s the easiest way to learn and I guarantee all the mystery will be solved. Link to the classes is here:

      http://breadangels.com/courses/

      type “sourdough” into the search bar and they will pop up.

      Thanks for writing! Jane

  47. Emily Johnson

    Hi Jane,

    Thank you for that advice. I live in Staffordshire in the UK. I will have a look at those websites you have shown me. I already have a Rye Sourdough Starter, I’m was just stuck on my Sourdough, but now that you’ve given me some links, I have a direction to go in.

  48. Liz

    This was really easy. I’ve made it twice and I’ve had two pretty good results. Good in that the sense that they were tasty and had risen okay. However the better one was definitely the first one in which I accidentally put nearly twice as much water as recommended. I’m trying it again now with extra water. I’ll see how it goes!

  49. Liz

    So at loaf no. 3 I can say that I seem to need twice or nearly three times as much water as suggested in the recipe. This might be because I’m using a wholemeal rye? (I’m also using the yellow tin of Allison’s dried yeast). My loaves also take quite a long time to rise (three hours minimum even in midsummer). But the result is a really great texture and a delicious loaf!

    1. virtuousbread

      THanks so much for the comment…all flour is different which is why water is only ever a guide and especially with rye you need to get comfy with a sopping wet dough! I am so pleased you persevered. The enzyme level that naturally occurs in the flour also impacts the speed of the rise. In the UK where I sometimes live my rye moves much more quickly than in Mexico even though here it is usually much hotter. Different flour!

  50. Gabriella

    On my way to the store now. Will let you know how this one turns out. Beautiful day in South Africa Lowveld near Kruger Park and I am going to bake my first rye. I am off any wheat or white flours for 10 days now. Here we go. Love and light Namaste to all.

  51. Christian

    Hi all,
    I agree with Liz that the dough needs a lot of water. For my rye breads (that is the Danish dark style) I make the dough so the texture is like a bit thin oatmeal.

    Btw it is funny to hear that rye some places has a bad reputation. As being dense and heavy. I guess it is places where it is only known in products like pumpernickel. The dark rye bread we eat here in Denmark is not comparable to pumpernickel. Ours are much more light and with air. We always add other flours too, to make it get those qualities too.

    If you more interested in rye recipes, you can see my selection at http://www.ryebread-recipe.com

    1. virtuousbread

      Dear Christian, thanks for this – you would be amazed at how most people think they do not like rye because they really only have tasted that rather dreadful pumpernickel from Aldi! My family is German so I grew up on all sorts of rye and “mixed bread”. I find properly made rye light and moist and delicious. I will check out your rye recipes right now! Thank you for writing.

  52. Lorraine

    Gonna try your bread recipe. So afraid of making yeast end breads, do not like the taste of yeast. I live in a rural area of a small Caribbean island and I only see instant yeast…I think. Please tell me again the best yeasts to use. Not brand, as there are very few brands, the type please.

  54. Chandra

    Hi, I have tried this recipe twice and both times have failed. The first time I used instant yeast, after 30 minutes of baking it, the middle fell in. The second time I tried I used dry yeast, I left it over night in the fridge and it did not budge so I left it out for the day to rise (so I’ll see when I get home if it did anything). The second batch I ended up adding 300g of water to my flour and still seemed a bit stiff. Do I keep adding water until it’s not stiff?

    1. virtuousbread

      Hello Chandra

      I am sorry for that. There are many reasons your bread may have collapsed while baking. It may have been over proofed going into the oven and/or it may have proofed in an overly warm climate. I find if it is much over 25 degrees C the rye can get a bit collapsey! As re water – yes – just keep throwing it in until you have a nice soft dough. Some rye absorbs more than others (as with all grains) so the water content for any bread recipe is only ever a guideline! How did the second one do? Did you proof the dry yeast before adding it?

  55. michael

    FYI – your recipe gives ‘250 grams of water’. Hate to tell you but water is measured as a VOLUME not a MASS. There is a difference!

    I suspect you mean MILLILITRES, not grams.

    Will try your recipe. Hope it works out.

    Cheers.

    1. virtuousbread

      Dear Michael,

      thanks for your comment you are clearly a really experienced chef however, in the UK we often measure liquids in grams and, as bakers in the UK the vast majority of us do. SO, you will see that all of my measurements are in grams as it is much more accurate to weigh everything on a digital scale. Try it! They are not expensive to buy and the results are exact.

    2. Steve

      Hi Michael
      1ml of water weighs 1g, so the two units are interchangeable. 250g is the same as 250ml.

  56. Chandra

    The second loaf didn’t turn out very nice. It was very dry and took almost 24hrs to rise. I will add more water next time. I did not proof my yeast before I added it, I will proof it before hand.

  57. Bob

    Just had my first attempt. The dough rose up quite well put sagged in the baking phase. Also very hard and crusty round the edges and quite brown, like a tan colour.
    I think I made a mistake by not proofing the fresh yeast ( how do you do that). Also the fresh yeast was doughy, should I have dried it out allowing me to sprinkle it into the mix.

    1. virtuousbread

      Hi bob

      the dropping whilst baking may be a sign that it was over risen before you baked it. Try putting it in a little earlier next time. You don’t have to proof fresh yeast – just crumble it up and mix it right in. You don’t have to dry it – it will disappear into the dough – just mix with a will!

  58. Bob

    Thanks, I also suspected that. It was left to rise for 6 hours. Here on the Cape coast in SA, we have a flour made in Heidelberg which is non GM, non preservative,non bleached and on their recipe for rye, they include 60g vinegar. Any comment. Bob

    1. virtuousbread

      You are on the cape coast! Lucky you – I love it there and am lucky enough to visit every two years in December! The flour you have is wonderful and when I am there I enjoy travelling around, visiting bakeries and basically just eating a lot. I don’t know about the vinegar except that rye bread tends to be a bit gummy (you may have noticed that) unless it is made with pure sourdough rather than added yeast because the acidity of the sourdough does something chemical which reduces the gumminess. That could be the function of the vinegar and it’s actually a very interesting idea and one I will try. 60 g of vinegar for how much flour? Let’s both try! I have to get my oven mended first…..yikes.

  59. Bob

    Just completed my second attempt. Slightly better but still dropped. Decreased the yeast to 5g, salt a little less, rising time 2hr but this may be still too long. Eureka Mills in Heidelberg recommend +- 1hr which I will use on the third attempt. I am inclined to think that the quality of the flour makes a big difference to the rising time,baking time and temp. of bake.
    Their recipe is much the same as yours except for the vinegar which they recommend in the proportion +- 60g per 2000g of flour. The use of vinegar in rye bread is because of the amylases#$? in rye bread which, as you correctly point out, causes gumminess. The acid in vinegar overcomes this problem. Be in touch.

    1. virtuousbread

      it’s summer right now, right? how hot is it? if it is much over 26 degrees, rye simply will not cooperate. I recommend mixing the dough, tinning it and putting it in the fridge to rise. 8 hours should do it and bung it in a pre heated oven straight from the fridge. Put temp to 230 and then drop it to 200 after 10 minutes and continue to bake for 30 minutes. 40 minutes is total baking time.

  60. Bob

    OK will do that for my third attempt.
    Although it has been stinking hot recently, by chance it rained all day on Wednesday which was my first attempt day and the temp. dropped to 21. It was back to hot again today.
    Anyway i’ll try it your way.

  61. Douglas hurrell

    Trying to find a true unadulterated recipe for true rye four bread ( dark) without whit flour or milk or any other fancy ways
    Just using organic dark rye flour plus the usuall bread ingredients is there a baker that can help making a 1.5 lbs loaf in a bread maker
    Thanks

    1. virtuousbread

      Hi Douglas

      If you scroll through the many notes on this post you will find one from somebody who did it successfully in a bread maker. I have never tried (and don’t own one) so alas I cannot help you. My recipe, as you see, is only flour, water, salt and yeast.

  62. Anne

    After a few attempts where things did not go so well – wrong yeast, too much water (slight lack of focus that day!), wrong size tin – I can now reliably crank out a delicious rye loaf every time. And no kneading – bliss. I’m not a bread maker but a trip to Finland last year got me interested in rye bread. Many thanks for sharing your expertise with us 🙂

    1. virtuousbread

      Dear Anne, how kind you are to leave this wonderful comment. I am so pleased! I love rye and all the things that contain rye. I am so pleased you do too!

  64. doughman

    Being a Nordic rye baking hobbyist/enthusiast from Finland, just wanted to point out that molasses or treacle are not the only way to make traditional Scandinavian or Nordic rye dark in color, but one may use about 5-10% of brown or black malted rye flour instead, or for added darkness when preferred. Added sweetness is not necessary for dark rye at all. In general it’s advisable to make rye sourdough as it’s known to enhance digestibility of rye’s nutrients, while using malted rye adds to the improved digestion, also it’s quite customary to use cumin seeds with rye for that same reason.

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