Should You Skip the Preheat Phase on Your Bread Machine?

Sneak Preview: Wondering if the preheat phase in your bread machine is necessary? Learn when to use it, when to skip it, and how to work around it.

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Do you have a preheat feature on your bread machine? If your machine sits quietly after turning it on, and nothing happens for 20-30 minutes, you most likely have a preheat phase.

Most bread makers (not the older ones) include a preheat phase to “stabilize the temperature of ingredients.” Theoretically, the bread baked in a bread machine has a better chance of success.

Do You Need “Preheat” for the DOUGH cycle?

No–for several reasons.

• The friction from kneading naturally warms the dough. You can prove this by sticking a digital thermometer into the dough after it finishes kneading. Read why I am generally against warming liquids when using the DOUGH cycle.
  
• Mixing the dough with cold ingredients can slow down the rising process. However, the longer the rise, the better the flavor, so no harm done. (That’s one reason homemade sourdough bread tastes so amazing.) If ingredients are extremely cold (or frozen), let them sit at room temperature for awhile or warm them up slightly.
  
• If your kitchen is already warm and/or humid, your dough may have super-rising power, leading to overproofing.
  • If the dough over-proofs, the bread can fall or fail to rise correctly when baking. Over-proofing is a common cause of dense bread.
    

YIKES! The kitchen was 78˚F, and the dough warmed quickly despite cold eggs, butter, and lukewarm milk. Chill the pan beforehand to slow the rise in warm kitchens.

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Do You Need the Preheat Feature When Baking Bread in the Machine?

The preheat feature may be advantageous when using the “one-and-done” REGULAR BREAD button. The reason is that the bread machine’s timing mechanism is programmed for ingredients at the same temperature.

I want to be in the kitchen as the machine kneads to make adjustments on the fly. However, waiting an extra 20-30 minutes for mixing to begin might not fit your schedule.

How to Warm Ingredients Quickly

• Liquids: Microwave briefly.
• Flour: Set near a warm spot, like a running dryer.
• Eggs: Soak in warm water for 2-3 minutes.
• Yeast: Instant yeast can be used straight from the fridge.
• Butter: Cut into small pieces or grate. Avoid melting it.

Don’t want to bother with heating the ingredients? Read more about why using room temperature ingredients may be irrelevant when using a bread machine.

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How to Skip the Preheat Phase

• Disable it: On a Zojirushi, press “time” and “cycle” simultaneously until PREHEAT OFF appears. Check your manual for other brands. Some machines don’t allow it.
• Use a custom cycle: If your machine allows programming, create a cycle without preheat.
• Start early: Turn on the machine while gathering ingredients to reduce wait time.

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Final Thoughts

The preheat phase can be helpful but isn’t always necessary. If you mostly use your bread machine for kneading, you can skip it. If baking in the machine, decide based on your schedule and ingredient temperatures.