Create a crispier bread crust by adding steam to the oven
Bake with a bowl of water or a tray of ice cubes in the oven to generate steam for better crust.
Place a bowl of water in the oven while baking, or use a tray of ice cubes. The steam keeps the dough’s outer layer moist so the crust develops better instead of cooking too fast.
The short version
- Add steam with water bowl or ice tray during baking
What you need
- oven-safe bowl or trayFor water or ice cubes
What goes wrong
Baking without steam and getting pale/thin crust
Add a water bowl or ice tray to create steam
Why it works
Steam delays crust setting, allowing better oven spring and improved crust development.
Learn next
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Bake granola, shake/stir it partway through, then finish baking to promote even browning and reduce burnt spots.
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Bake until a knife comes out clean to confirm the loaf is cooked through.
Use a hotter final oven blast to crisp fries after baking
If baking instead of air frying, finish with a short higher-temperature step to crisp them up.
Parboil fries until the outside softens before air frying or baking
Boil cut potatoes until the exterior starts to soften, then finish in an air fryer or oven for a crisp outside.