6 Reasons Why Your Dough Didn't Rise — salt n sprinkles (2024)

If you’re having trouble getting your dough to rise, these may be the reasons why!

6 Reasons Why Your Dough Didn't Rise — salt n sprinkles (1)

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6 Reasons Why Your Dough Didn’t Rise:

I’m a baker, and I love it. I’ve been baking for years, but I not-so-fondly remember my early baking days when I would try to bake a bread, or a donut, or a cinnamon roll, and I was disappointed to see that my dough didn’t rise. Not to be defeated, I would go ahead and bake the flat dough anyway hoping that the dough would finish rising in the oven and… it never did. That’s not how dough rising works, unfortunately.

My dough didn’t rise so often that I completely avoided baking any kind of risen dough for years. But one of my baking goals this year was to conquer yeast dough. Now that I know how what makes dough rise and what doesn’t, I’m not afraid of it at all! If you’ve ever faced the problem why you dough didn’t rise, just know you’re not alone. Check out these tips to see how you can ensure perfect proofing in the future:

6 Reasons Why Your Dough Didn't Rise — salt n sprinkles (2)

1. The yeast was old.

Sadly, sometimes when you buy a packet of yeast at the grocery store, the yeast may already be old or too weak to provide a proper rise. I’ve tested a lot of brands, and the most reliable is definitely Saf-Instant Yeast! I’ve never had trouble with my yeast rising after I started using Saf Instant Yeast. I keep it in the fridge after opening, which extends the shelf life. Regardless, it’s always best to use fresh yeast that you’ve either bought recently or refrigerated. Yeast can last in your pantry for about four to six months, and if you don’t bake often you may have some old yeast hanging around that’s no longer active. This is why you always have to test your yeast first and check it for activity before proceeding with your recipe.

2. You didn't test your yeast before using it.

This was by far my biggest mistake when I first tried to bake with yeast. I was impatient. When my yeast didn’t bubble, I would just proceed anyway thinking that it would still work (spoiler: it never worked). So, learn from my mistake and make sure you always follow these steps when you’re ready to bake with yeast: measure out the warm water (or milk) in your recipe and pour into a bowl. Stir in the yeast and add a pinch of sugar, and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Your yeast should be foamy and smell bread-y. If it does not foam and does not smell bread-y toss it out and test another packet of yeast. It’s always a good idea to buy more yeast than you need just in case it ends up being a dud!

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3. The liquid was too hot, or not hot enough.

Active dry yeast recipes will always tell you to dissolve the yeast in a warm liquid (water or sometimes milk) before using. It will usually tell you to use “warm” water. The water temperature should be between 110 - 115 F degrees. If your liquid is too hot (i.e. boiling) it will kill the yeast and prevent the rise. If it’s not hot enough, the yeast won’t have the heat needed to bloom. Use a thermometer to measure the liquid’s temperature before using.

4. The yeast touched salt.

This is a weird tip that I only learned only recently, but make sure your yeast doesn’t come in direct contact with salt while you’re pouring it into your recipe! This is more relevant for instant yeast, which you mix into your flour directly and doesn’t get mixed into a warm liquid first. While you’re adding in the dry ingredients, make sure you pour the yeast into one side of the bowl, and the salt into the other side of the bowl. The salt can suck the moisture out of the yeast and keep the yeast from blooming if they touch. Apparently this doesn’t happen often, but better to be safe than to be stuck with dough that doesn’t rise!

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5. The dough didn’t rise in a warm place.

Most risen dough recipes call for the dough to rise on the counter, or in the fridge. When the dough is in the fridge, this is considered to be a slow rise, and typically is done overnight. When the dough is rising on the counter, the proofing time is typically around an hour, where the dough will typically double in size. Make sure the dough is in a warm place on the counter while it’s proofing, and not in a cold spot or near a draft. Yeast thrives in warm, moist places . I find my oven to be a good spot (with the temperature turned off)! I also find that my dough rises quickest during the summer since my home is naturally a bit warmer, while it takes much longer during colder months. So, find a warm spot in your home and let it be your official dough rising spot from here on out. If it’s colder in your kitchen, it may take as long as two hours to get your dough to rise, and that’s ok! Just be patient and allow it to take its time.

6. You didn’t grease your bowl or plastic wrap before rising.

This is another tip I used to gloss over in my early baking days, but make sure you grease whatever bowl or pan you are rising your dough in, and to grease the plastic wrap that you’re using to cover it. As the dough rises, it can stick to the bowl and plastic wrap and tear instead of rising. It’s a simple thing, but can make a big difference when it’s time to proof your dough.

Happy baking! Do you have any questions or tips for getting your dough to rise? Comment below!

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6 Reasons Why Your Dough Didn't Rise — salt n sprinkles (2024)

FAQs

6 Reasons Why Your Dough Didn't Rise — salt n sprinkles? ›

“Because salt helps to control fermentation, it's better to catch this one sooner than later in yeast doughs,” says Laurie. Without salt, your dough will rise faster than it normally would, leading to less flavor development and a weaker structure. To incorporate the salt, mix it with a few teaspoons of water.

What is the common reasons why your dough doesn't rise? ›

To avoid future flops, check out these reasons your bread might not be rising.
  • The Yeast Is Too Old. TMB studio. ...
  • The Water Is Too Hot. TMB studio. ...
  • It's Too Cold. TMB studio. ...
  • Too Much Salt. TMB studio. ...
  • Too Much Sugar. TMB studio. ...
  • Too Much Flour. TMB studio. ...
  • Using Whole Grains. TMB studio. ...
  • The Exterior Is Too Dry. TMB studio.
Feb 19, 2021

Does salt prevent dough from rising? ›

“Because salt helps to control fermentation, it's better to catch this one sooner than later in yeast doughs,” says Laurie. Without salt, your dough will rise faster than it normally would, leading to less flavor development and a weaker structure. To incorporate the salt, mix it with a few teaspoons of water.

What to do with dough that didn't rise? ›

But almost as good as a proofing box is taking a Mason jar filled halfway up with water, microwaving it for two minutes, then putting your bowl of dough into the microwave with the jar to rise. The other thing you can do is place your lidded container or bowl of dough into a second, larger bowl of warm water.

What happens if I put too much salt in my dough? ›

If the percentage of salt added to a dough becomes too high, excessive dehydration will eventually kill the yeast and bacteria. Most scientists believe that at 2% of the flour weight or less, salt alone does not significantly alter either the yeast's gassing power or the bacteria's acid production.

How do you force dough to rise? ›

A Bowl of Steaming Water is the Key to Quickly Proofing Bread. In the winter, when your house and kitchen are at a crisp temperature and you need a warm spot for your dough to rise, create a makeshift “proof box” by placing a bowl of steaming water inside your oven alongside your bowl of dough.

What factors affect dough rising? ›

Things like the water and air temperature, humidity, how large the pieces of dough are, the vessel the dough is in, and how it was shaped will all change the way and the speed that dough rises,” says Maggie.

What prevents dough from rising? ›

Yeast is too hot Yeast may have been dissolved in water that was too hot, or the liquid ingredients in the recipe may be too hot, causing the yeast to die. Yeast needs to be warm - not too hot, not too cold. Yeast is too cold If the other ingredients are too cold, it could cause some of the yeast to die.

Does salt ruin yeast? ›

So, while it's theoretically possible for salt to kill yeast, practically speaking it's not a concern; you can let them touch without any negative effects. Our back-of-the-bag oatmeal bread is a simple loaf that's made by mixing everything, including the yeast and salt, together.

What does salt do in dough? ›

Salt acts as a natural antioxidant in the dough and not only adds taste but especially helps bring out the flavors and aromas present in the flour and other ingredients. Next to its role in boosting the flavor of your bread, salt plays a role in tightening the gluten structure and adding strength to your dough.

What temperature kills yeast? ›

Too Hot to Survive. Regardless of the type of yeast you use, if your water reaches temperatures of 120°F or more, the yeast will begin to die off. Once water temps reach 140°F or higher, that is the point where the yeast will be completely killed off.

Can I bake with dead yeast? ›

If your mixture does not rise much or stays at the same volume, then your yeast is no longer active. You'll have to throw it out, and get yourself a new batch.

Can dough rise without covering? ›

These dry patches won't stretch during rising to develop an elastic dough, resulting in a dense, squat loaf – not something you want! For best results, use a non-porous, tight fitting cover such as a saucepan lid, bowl cover or even a sheet pan laid on top of the bowl, weighted down with something.

What if salt dough is still wet? ›

If they still feel wet, put them back into the microwave for another few seconds. However, if you are not in a rush for them, you could leave them to air dry on a cooling rack in a warm place – but this can take days! 8. Once your decorations are dry you can either leave them as they are, or you can paint them.

Why is my salt dough crumbling? ›

Salt dough is susceptible to moisture, meaning it will pull any moisture from the surrounding air. This causes your projects to turn soggy or even crumble.

How do you add salt to dough without killing yeast? ›

With dried yeast, mix it separately with the water and then add this into the flour and salt mixture. With fresh yeast, rub it well into the flour, as you would with butter when making pastry, before adding the salt and water.

What helps the dough to rise? ›

When you add yeast to water and flour to create dough, it eats up the sugars in the flour and excretes carbon dioxide gas and ethanol — this process is called fermentation. The gluten in the dough traps the carbon dioxide gas, preventing it from escaping. The only place for it to go is up, and so the bread rises.

Why is my dough so dense and not rising? ›

There may be several reasons for a dense, cake like texture in bread. It may indicate the kneading wasn't enough for the gluten to develop properly, or the dough was proved for too short a time or the dough may have been too dry. It is also worth checking the flour you used.

How long to let dough rise with active dry yeast? ›

We've found that active dry yeast is a little bit slower off the mark than instant, as far as dough rising goes; but in a long (2- to 3-hour) rise, the active dry yeast catches up.

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