Significance

• Bread flour contains more gluten than all-purpose flour. This makes it rise higher and affects the bread's consistency. White flour has more gluten than wheat and other dark flours.

Prevention/Solution

• When you don't have the type of flour the recipe calls for, either choose another recipe or substitute a similar kind and monitor progress through the machine's window.

Effects

• Check the dough's consistency during the mixing cycle, adding a small handful of flour if it is sticky. A groaning machine that spins sporadically needs a spoonful more liquid.

Alternatives

• Use prepackaged bread mix. Make a note of the loaf size your machine can handle and follow the directions accordingly.

Pitfalls

• Beware of rainy days and very high humidity. This can cause bread to rise too much or hardly at all, regardless of the ingredients.