How to Make Dutch Oven Bread with Whey

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If you’ve ever made cheese or cultured dairy products, you may find that you have a lot of whey left over. Whatever you do, don’t throw out the leftover whey. This Dutch oven bread with whey is the perfect way to use up the leftover whey and have absolutely delicious bread. This bread is crispy on the outside and soft and delicious on the inside and has become one of our go-to bread recipes in our homestead kitchen.

Below you can find exactly how to make this homemade when bread in a dutch oven with a step by step guide, or scroll to the bottom of this article for a recipe card.

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Why Use Whey to Make Bread

Whey is a bi-product of making many dairy recipes such as cheese or butter – but there are many other reasons to cook with whey besides. Here are a few benefits of using whey to make bread:

• Nutritional Benefits: Whey is rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals. Adding whey to bread increases its nutritional value, providing additional protein and other nutrients.
• Improved Texture: Whey can improve the texture of bread by making it softer and more tender. The proteins in whey help to strengthen the gluten network in the dough, resulting in a better rise and a finer crumb structure.
• Extended Shelf Life: The acidity of whey can help to inhibit the growth of mold and other microbes, thus extending the shelf life of bread.
• Reduced Waste: Utilizing whey in bread-making provides a sustainable solution for utilizing a byproduct of cheese production, reducing waste in the food industry.
• Flavor Enhancement: Whey can add a subtle tangy flavor to bread, enhancing its taste profile.

Dutch Oven Bread with Whey Ingredients

When we got into cheese making, we suddenly have a steady supply of whey in the house. This sent me down the path of finding the best ways to use whey and ultimately the best recipe for bread with whey. This Dutch oven bread is simply delicious and is actually incredibly easy. Below are the exact ingredients you need

• 1.5 cups Whey (350 ml)
• 3 Cups All Purpose Flour (375 grams)
• 1/2 tsp Dry Active Yeast (2 grams)
• 1 1/2 tsp Salt (2 grams)

Steps

Step 1: Warm the when to luke warm (around 100 degrees). In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, salt and yeast). Add warm whey and mix together. You can do this by hand or I also like to use a stand mixer on low for just a minute. The dough will be shaggy, loose and sticky and much softer than other bread dough.

Step 2: Leave the dough in a very warm spot for about 3 hours. I often place the bowl over a warm bowl of water to get started but you can also put it on low in an instant post or just near a heater.

Step 3: Put dough onto a counter with some extra flour and form it into a ball. The ball should be soft and loose. Place a town over the dough and allow to rest for 30 minutes. While the dough is sitting, turn of the oven to 500 degrees and place your dutch oven in the oven to start warming.

Step 4: Remove the Dutch oven from the oven and gently move the dough into the Dutch oven – you can sprinkle a bit of water on the bread or simply leave it.. You can add parchment or a little olive oil if you are worried about your bread sticking. Turn the oven to 450 and put the Dutch oven in for 25 minutes. After 25 minutes, remove the lid and bake for 20 additional minutes.

Step 5: Remove the bread from the oven and place on a cooling rack. Allow the bread to cool before serving.

Top Tips for Making Dutch Oven Bread with Whey

This bread with whey is relatively easy to make, but below are a few tips to make sure you have success:

• When baking, I often recommend using a kitchen scale, but I’ve found this bread recipe to be fairly forgiving and I usually just measure the ingredients with cups and spoons.
• It is possible to make this without a Dutch oven (although it comes out a lot better with a Dutch oven. IF you have a pizza stone, you can heat this in the oven and then put the bread on the pizza stone with a roasting pan over the bread.
• Find a warm spot to keep the bread during the rising phase. You can expect the dough to double in size. If you find the dough isn’t changing, you can place it over a warm bowl of water.

Dutch Oven Bread with Whey Recipe