Partially Baked Breads

• Some rolls, breadsticks and breads sold at grocery stores are partially baked before they arrive at the market. Find these types of bread in either the frozen foods section or the bakery section of the store; they are often labeled, "brown and serve." These breads typically need only 5 to 10 minutes in the oven to warm and create a golden-brown surface, since the dough is almost completely baked.

Refrigerated Bread Dough

• Refrigerated bread dough, which typically comes in a roll or can, is often found in the refrigerated section near the cheese, eggs or milk. This dough is raw, but cooks quickly. It usually doesn't contain yeast, but has a texture similar to biscuits. Refrigerated bread dough cooks in eight to 15 minutes, depending on the size of the bread you're cooking.

Frozen Bread Dough

• For bread that closely approximates homemade taste, try frozen bread dough, a yeast dough that has been frozen after the first rising. Before you can bake it, you must let it thaw and rise again, a process which can take up to six hours. One of the simplest methods to thaw the dough is to place it on an oiled pan, cover it with a clean towel and set it in the refrigerator overnight. By morning, it should be just about ready to bake. Alternatively, place the dough in a warm location or even warm the oven slightly and place it in the oven. Don't allow it to over-rise; however, it can cause the finished product to sink. It should rise to double its original size. Once the dough is fully thawed and risen, it needs about the same baking time as a homemade loaf of bread: from 25 minutes for rolls to 1 hour for a large loaf of bread. Promptly remove breads from the pan and allow it to cool.

Shortcuts

• Store-bought bread dough tastes pretty good on its own, but you can also use it in a variety of ways to cut down your meal-prep time. Frozen bread dough can stand in for pizza dough; simply thaw it, let it rise, roll it out, spread on the toppings and bake for 15 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Add butter, garlic and Parmesan cheese, and you have delicious garlic bread or breadsticks. You can also use bread dough for breakfast breads. Roll it out and slather it with butter; top the prepared dough with brown sugar, cinnamon, pecans, raspberries or even orange peel. Roll up the dough tightly; slice it into 1-inch rolls for quick and tasty breakfast rolls.