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How to Make a Beautiful Bread Machine Ciabatta (+Video)

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Categories Bread, Recipes, Savory Bread Machine Loaves and Yeast Rolls

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Sneak Peek: This bread machine ciabatta recipe produces the traditional look and texture you love while using a bread machine to mix and knead the dough. Check out the tips for shaping the sticky dough while barely touching it.

Finding holes in my bread was never so satisfying. Whenever I take Ciabatta out of the oven, I can’t wait to slice it open. Lots of holes with no huge ones spells bread-making success in my book.

The slack and flimsy dough of Ciabatta gives new meaning to the word “sticky.” The home baker may find it challenging to impossible. Use a bread machine to save the day.

If you are confident in your bread-baking skills, I wrote this post just for you. However, if you are a newbie, you might try this recipe for Crusty French Bread. It’s the most popular bread recipe on this website.

Recipe inspiration:

Have you seen the British Baking Show on PBS or Netflix? After a friend at church told me about it, I was binge-watching within 24 hours.

How to Make Ciabatta with a Bread Machine--sliced ciabatta on cutting board

In one of the first episodes, Paul Hollywood picked Ciabatta as the “Baker’s Challenge.” When questioned about his choice, he told Mary Berry, “because it is so hard.”

Those are fightin’ words.

I took the challenge and pulled out my bread machine along with several recipe books.

A companion show to the British Baking competition is the Masterclass. The two judges show how to make the recipes they assign as challenges. Paul makes the Ciabatta in Masterclass 2 of Season 1. (So sorry, it looks like this video is no longer accessible.) I watched it more times than I can count.

First on the list was perfecting the recipe. Then I had to figure out how to shape the loaves without losing my mind over all the messy dough stuck to my fingers. I hope you find it helpful.

Why is making ciabatta in a bread machine a good idea?

Ciabatta begins and ends as a very sticky dough. Kneading by hand would be quite a mess (impossible?). Call in your bread machine for the rescue!

The dough doesn’t “stick and pull away cleanly from the side of the pan” like the average bread dough. Instead, dough with the correct consistency will stick to the side, then pull away, but not cleanly.

On the other hand, the dough should not level out like cake batter either.

The dough should stick to the sides but still maintain its shape as it kneads. It will become smooth and shiny as the gluten develops.

The secret to “almost-no-hands shaping:”

Paul Hollywood’s method of shaping the dough is genius. He proofs the dough in a well-greased rectangle-shaped plastic container.

After rising, dump the dough onto a well-floured silicone baking mat. Do it slowly and patiently. From there, you can do all the manipulation with a bench knife.

The process is SO challenging to explain with words. See the pictures below or, better yet, the video.

***The secret to success with this process is “well-floured” and “well-greased.”

slices of ciabatta showing lots of holes and tunnels under a golden crust

Is this bread worth the trouble?

I think so. The yeasty flavors are well-developed and flavorful, the texture is chewy, and the crust is crusty but tender. To execute this bread successfully is high on my list of satisfying kitchen experiences.

Addendum as of 11/17/20: I’ve revised the recipe and video to demonstrate an additional foldover technique during the rising process. It will help to obtain a holey texture every time.

Ingredients and substitutions

  • YEAST:  No need to dissolve instant or bread machine yeast (same thing). I use it in all my bread-machine recipes.

    Now you can substitute active dry yeast without dissolving it first. Be aware that it may be a little slower on the uptake, but it will get there. Allow more time for rising.
  • WATER: If you have spring water in the house, use that. Otherwise, tap water is fine.
  • FLOUR: The recipe calls for all-purpose flour. Bread flour is a good substitute. Sometimes, I use all-purpose flour for the biga and bread flour when mixing up the dough. I’m indecisive that way.
  • MILK: Whatever milk you have on hand will work.
  • SALT: Use table salt or sea salt.
  • SEMOLINA: This is not an ingredient per se. Sprinkle semolina on the silicone mat where you shape the loaf to prevent sticking. I use this combined with a minimal amount of flour. Use flour alone or along with finely-milled cornmeal as a substitute.
equipment suggestions for making this recipe

Equipment you will need:

  • BREAD MACHINE:
    I only use my bread machine to knead the dough, so it doesn’t have to be fancy. How it bakes doesn’t matter because we are only going to use it for what it does best–knead bread dough.

    You could use a stand mixer to knead Ciabatta dough, but I wouldn’t try to knead it by hand. It’s impossibly sticky.
  • DIGITAL SCALES:
    Measuring the flour precisely is important in any bread recipe. If you scoop it out with a measuring cup, you risk using too much. Your Ciabatta won’t turn out light and airy. See this post for the correct way to measure if you don’t have scales.
  • 3-QUART RECTANGULAR-SHAPED PLASTIC CONTAINER with LID:
    I got the one in the picture at the dollar store. It doesn’t need to be fancy. If you can get something that holds exactly 3 quarts, then you will know precisely when the dough has risen enough because it will almost fill the container.

    What if I can’t find one?

    You can make a square container work, but you’ll have to get your well-greased hands into the sticky dough.

    Stretch and reshape each half of the dough after you divide it with a bench scraper. The loaves should be long and skinny. While there’s nothing wrong with square and fat, both loaves might not fit onto one cookie sheet.
  • SILICONE BAKING MAT:
    A nonstick silicone mat is essential for making loaves with my “almost-no-touch” technique.

    If you don’t have a mat, try using parchment paper. But it may wrinkle up underneath the bread.

    If you are shaping the loaves on a floured countertop or a large cutting board, move the loaves to a cookie sheet with a floured hand. That dough is sticky, man. You can find yourself in a mess before you know it
  • BENCH SCRAPER:
    This is a key part of my strategy to avoid touching the dough. Spray the scraper with olive oil. If it starts to stick to the dough, you can spray it with more oil or sprinkle it with a little flour.
  • WATER SPRAY BOTTLE:
    If you want a crispy crust, spray the crust before you put the loaves in the oven. Spray once or twice again in the next five minutes.

    Optional: Fill a pan with boiling water. Place it onto the bottom shelf of your oven before baking your Ciabatta.
  • RIMLESS COOKIE SHEET:
    Slip a rimless cookie sheet under the silicone baking sheet with the shaped bread on top. If all your cookie sheets have rims, turn one over and use the backside.
  • COOLING RACK: If you don’t want your crust to be soft and soggy on the bottom, use a cooling rack.

4 secrets to success with this ciabatta recipe

1. Use cool water and cool milk in this recipe, but never ice cold.

Often, bread recipes will call for warm liquids because they hasten the proofing or rising. However, Paul Hollywood emphasized that one should not rush the process.

2. Let the dough rise at room temperature.

For the same reason as #1, don’t use that warm and humid spot where you usually proof bread dough. The longer it takes to rise, the better the flavor. If the dough rises too fast, it won’t be strong enough and will result in a flat loaf.

***Here’s a tip

When uncooked ciabatta loaves flatten out in the last rise, it’s a sign they may have risen too long the first time.

Fold them lengthwise to make them double in height. Use your fingertips to dimple the dough again. Wait another 5-10 minutes, and then bake as usual.

3. Ciabatta must be started the day before you want to serve it.

This recipe involves a biga (aka pre-ferment). A biga is a water and flour mixture with a small amount of yeast added.

Incubate from 12-24 hours before adding the remaining ingredients. With that in mind, start this recipe the day before you want to eat your Ciabatta.

If plans change, refrigerate the biga after the first 12-24 hours. Then, use it within the next three days.

4. Use a thermometer to check the doneness of your bread.

The temperature should be around 200-210˚F.

Some people claim they can tell by thumping the loaf on the bottom. They might be the same people who can pick the best watermelon at the store by thumping it. Not me. I need something more precise.

My favorite thermometer is a little pricey, but I love how fast and accurate it is. Or check out this popular and affordable thermometer.

bread machine crash course sign-up

How to make ciabatta with a bread maker:

Heads up! LOTS of process pictures ahead.

I want you to be successful with this tricky bread. Let me know if you have a question as you go through the steps.

biga after it has developed overnight
#1 Make the biga 12-24 hours ahead of time. It should look bubbly like this when ready. (If plans change, scoop the biga out of the pan into a small bowl. Refrigerate it for up to three days so you can continue the process later.)

As the dough starts to mix in bread maker
2. Add remaining ingredients and start the DOUGH cycle. As the dough begins to mix, it will be very sticky. Don’t add flour even though it’s tempting-this recipe is different.

sticky ciabatta dough at the end of the dough cycle
3. When the kneading cycle is almost complete, the dough should be shiny and pull away from the sides. However, It will still be sticky to touch.
dumping the dough from the bread machine pan to a greased plastic bowl
4. Lightly oil the inside of a rectangular-shaped 3-quart container (inside of the lid, too). Mine is a cheap plastic affair I picked up at the dollar store. When the machine finishes kneading, it will go quiet. Dump your dough into the greased container.
Do not let it finish the dough cycle in the machine.

turning dough to coat with oil
5. Use a greased spatula and turn the dough to coat the sides with oil.
First rise to double
6. Cover. Set aside to rise for 1 hour or until dough doubles the original volume.
First foldover with greased spatula
7. Use a greased spatula to lift the dough from each corner and pull it to the middle.
finished foldover--sits for 30 minutes
8. Do this gently, so you don’t smash out any bubbles. (See video) Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.
second foldover --sits another 30 minutes
9. Repeat the folding process. Cover and let rise again for 30 minutes.

How to shape bread machine ciabatta loaves with the “almost-no-touch” method:

Use flour and semolina to flour a silicone baking mat
1. Lightly flour a silicone baking mat. Sprinkle with flour and semolina or fine cornmeal. (Semolina is the best if you can find it.)
spray a bench scraper with olive oil
2. Spray or coat a bench scraper with oil.
Turning bowl upside down to dump dough onto floured surface.
3. Turn the bowl holding the dough upside down onto the floured surface. Don’t use a spatula. Just let it fall out on its own.
dividing the dough in two pieces with a bench scraper
4. Use a greased or floured bench scraper to cut the rectangle in half lengthwise.
shaping the loaves
5. Catch the edges with a bench scraper and pull the long edges over the top and toward the outer edge, which leaves more room between each loaf. (See the video.)
stretching and pulling the bread loaves
6. Stretch and shape loaves to the desired shape with a bench scraper and your well-floured hands.
using fingers to dimple loaves
7. Use fingertips to shape and dimple the loaves. Cover with a tea towel or oiled plastic wrap.

Preheat the oven to 450˚F.

transferring loaves to a baking sheet.

8. Transfer the mat with the loaves on top to a rimless baking sheet. Allow the dough to rise for 30-40 minutes until the dough gets puffy. Spritz the loaves with water and place them into a hot oven. Spray one or two more times in the first 5 minutes to ensure a crispy crust.
baking to 210˚F.
9. Bread should register 210˚F on a quick-read thermometer when done. Wait at least 1 hour before slicing.
Sliced ciabatta.
Ciabatta tastes best after it cools for a complete hour. I know. It’s hard to wait.

More recipes for bread makers:

6 Bread Machine Secrets You Need To Know

If you are new to the bread-machine world, be sure to read this post.

Crusty Round Bread Recipe for a Bread Machine

Crusty Round Bread (made in a bread machine): The 2-step process slowly develops yeasty flavor resulting in a chewy texture with a close crumb.

Crusty French Bread (Mixed in a Bread Machine)

This recipe is for a simple, crusty French bread you can mix up in your bread machine and bake in the oven for the freshest bread ever.

Really Crusty Dinner Rolls from Your Bread Machine

These crusty dinner rolls come with a soft interior and a crispy, chewy crust.

Yield: 16 slices

Bread Machine Ciabatta Recipe

bread machine ciabatta--sliced

Because ciabatta starts life as a very slack and sticky dough, the bread machine is a useful tool to mix and knead the dough. Make the biga by adding the first three ingredients listed below to your bread machine at least 12 hours ahead of time. This is a sort of "starter" that will contribute flavor and a hole-y texture to your bread.

Prep Time 1 day
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 day 20 minutes

Ingredients

BIGA

  • 1/8 teaspoon instant yeast (.4 gr)
  • 1/2 cup (4 ounces) water (filtered or spring water if you have it) (114 gr)
  • 1 cup unbleached, all-purpose flour (120 grams)

CIABATTA DOUGH

  • 1/2 cup (4 ounces) cool water (114 gr)
  • 1/4 cup (2 ounces) milk (57 gr)
  • 1-1/2 teaspoon salt (9 gr)
  • 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (240 grams)
  • 1/2 teaspoon bread machine yeast (yes, that's all) (1.5 gr)
  • flour or semolina for flouring the board and your hands

Instructions

Mixing the Biga

  1. Combine yeast, water, and flour in the bread machine pan. (Use another container if you don't want to tie up your bread machine that long.) Select the dough cycle and turn on for about 5 minutes to mix the ingredients. Use a small spatula to scrape excess flour from the corners into the wet flour mixture. Turn off or unplug the machine and let sit for 12-24 hours.
  2. If not using the biga within 24 hours, place the foamy mixture into the refrigerator. The flavor will only get better--up to 3-4 days. Allow the biga to come to room temperature before proceeding to the next step.

Mixing the Ciabatta Dough

  1. In the order listed, add the water, milk, salt, flour, and yeast to the biga in your bread machine.
  2. Select the DOUGH cycle and push start. After 15-20 minutes, open the lid and check the dough. The dough should start to look shiny but will still be sticky. The dough will wind around the paddle(s). (See video.) If the dough is not sticking to the sides at all, add water 1 tablespoon at a time. If the dough looks more like a thick pancake batter, add extra flour 1 tablespoon at a time. If you have weighed your flour correctly, hopefully, no adjustments will be necessary.
  3. When kneading stops, remove the pan from the machine. Do not let the DOUGH cycle finish as you normally would.
  4. Lightly spray a 3-quart square or rectangular container. Use a brush or your hand to coat the inside of the container..
  5. Use a greased spatula to remove the sticky dough from the bread machine pan into a well-greased plastic container. Oil all surfaces of the dough by flipping the dough over with the spatula.
  6. Cover and allow the dough to rise at room temperature. Don't try to rush it. Let the dough rise until double. This make take an hour or longer if the room is cold.
  7. Using a greased spatula, slip it underneath the dough in the corners and lift each corner and each side up and to the middle. This is better seen on the video. Be careful not to squash any bubbles. Cover and let sit for 30 minutes.
  8. Repeat step 7. Again, let the dough rest for 30 minutes. This helps to ensure a holey texture

Shaping the Ciabatta Dough

  1. Empty dough by turning the container upside down onto a very liberally-floured (semolina flour and bread flour work well together if you have it) surface. (I use a silicone baking sheet since it's easy to throw into the dishwasher). The dough should be in the same general square or rectangular shape of the container it proofed in. DO NOT PUNCH THE DOUGH DOWN like you would normal bread dough.
  2. Spray or coat a bench scraper (or large knife) with olive oil. Use it to divide the rectangle of dough in half longways.
  3. Catch the long inner edges of each loaf with the oiled bench scraper and pull it up over the top about halfway and toward the outer edge. This leaves more room between each loaf. (This is quite challenging in the beginning, so don't expect perfection the first few times.)
  4. Now catch the outer edge of each loaf (the one that looks like it's about to fall off the tray at this point) with the bench scraper. Again, pull it up over the loaf about halfway in the direction of the middle of the tray. (See the video.)
  5. Straighten and clean up the shape with a bench knife. Use your well-greased or floured fingers (as if you were playing the piano) to dimple the surface of the dough.

Second-Rise and Baking

  1. If you are using a silicone mat, transfer or pull the mat with the shaped loaves onto a rimless baking sheet. (See video)
  2. If you are not using a silicone mat, use liberally-floured hands to carefully transfer the two cylinders of dough to a prepared cookie sheet. (To prepare the baking sheet, cover the sheet with parchment paper. Or grease and sprinkle with flour and/or semolina or cornmeal.)
  3. Cover the loaves so the dough won't dry out and form a crust. You can also spray a large piece of plastic wrap with oil and cover the loaves with it.
  4. Preheat oven to 450˚F.
  5. Let loaves rest for about 30-45 minutes or until they get puffy.
  6. Spritz loaves with water using a spray bottle. Bake at 450˚ F for 18-20 minutes. Spray loaves one or two more times during the first 5 minutes of baking. Do it quickly so your oven won't lose too much heat.
  7. Loaves are done when the crust is golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 210˚F.
  8. Allow loaves to cool on a cooling rack for at least an hour before slicing.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

16 slices

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 167Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 213mgCarbohydrates: 34gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 6g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

© Paula of saladinajar.com
Cuisine: American / Category: Bread

Laurel

Sunday 1st of August 2021

I have sourdough starter. Can I use that in place of making the biga and if so how much should I use in conjunction with the yeast? Starter has been nurtured for a long time and I thought might add flavor to the ciabatta. Fed it 12 hours ago and put in fridge. Anxious to try this recipe. Thank you.

Paula

Monday 2nd of August 2021

Hi Laurel,

I have actually tried this myself, once, a few months ago. It didn't work out so well. I still think it has possibilities, but I need to experiment more. So I can't be much help. But I hope you try it and let me know how it goes. Keep notes so that if it turns out good, you can tell me how you did it. Good luck!

Lia

Wednesday 7th of July 2021

The bread turned out great. I followed the recipe to the letter (weighted all in the ingredients)The proving time took quite a bit longer. I waited until the dough had doubled then did step 7 and repeated step 7. I just made one big loaf because the dough was a bit hard to handle. With a bit more practice I'll do two loaves.

Paula

Wednesday 7th of July 2021

Yes, the dough is challenging. But you already know the secret....practice!

Kathy

Sunday 27th of June 2021

A few questions. I've started making my first loaf and I decided it a good idea to review the recipe and text in the article.

Question 1: You state to use cool water and milk not warm yet in the recipe it states to use warm milk. Which is it?

Question 2: I dimple my Focaccia bread but wouldn't dimpling this bread disturb the bubbles?

Question 3: I have a proof setting on my stove. Is it okay to use for this bread?

Paula

Sunday 27th of June 2021

1. I would use cool water and cool milk, especially in the summer. The amount of milk is so small, it really doesn't matter if it is warm or cool. 2. Dimpling the dough helps to even out the bubbles so you don't have just a few very large bubbles and instead, have bubbles more evenly throughout. 3. Kathy, the wonderful thing about Ciabatta is the amazing flavor. But doing anything to rush the proofing, such as a warmer ambient temperature will cut down the time required for the rise AND the flavor. I vote for flavor when it comes to Ciabatta so I can't recommend the proof setting. (This is a wonderful feature I use all the time for bread, but not Ciabatta.)

Kathy

Sunday 27th of June 2021

@Kathy,

Another observation - In the recipe you state to bake until it reaches a temperature of 210, but in the tips (#4) it states 190-200. Which is it?

Kathy

Saturday 26th of June 2021

Where did you get your 3 quart rectangular container? I have been to 3 stores and the smallest I have found is a 5+ quart. I have a 3 quart round container and just wonder if this will work if I do my folds at 90 degree increments. I'll use the 5 quart if need be and just lay it gently on it's side then gently turn it over so the dough can gently roll out. I am trying my hand at this because my husband has try several different methods and hasn't been happy with the lack of bubbles. His problem is he likes crust and air bubbles. He also wants to do the simplest method - no biga. Too much time he says. So, I'm trying this recipe to see if I can get his desired results.

Kathy

Sunday 27th of June 2021

@Paula,

I did go back and read the whole article and saw the Dollar Store reference. I never think about the Dollar Store and there are 2 near my house. I bought 2, both are in the 5 quart range. I'll check the Dollar Store tomorrow. I did let it just roll out gently and it seemed to work well. My husband is one of those who doesn't want to take the time to take the extra effort. So, when he admitted mine was delicious I was a bit taken a back. I agree, the Biga makes all the difference. Gives it an almost sour dough flavor although it hasn't sat that long. He will continue to make it his way and I will make it using this recipe.

Paula

Sunday 27th of June 2021

Kathy, I got the rectangular container at the dollar store. I highly recommend a rectangular or square container so that you don't have to manipulate the dough so much. That stuff is super sticky. The less you have to touch it, the better. It could be bigger than 3-quarts, then do as you suggested about turning it out.

I don't know what to say about not making a biga. It only takes 3 minutes to throw it into your bread machine the night before and it makes ALLLLLL the difference. Ciabatta is not an easy bread for most home bakers to make. Unless you are a seasoned bread baker, I would not expect great results until you've made it several times. That's why it is so satisfying to make a good loaf. It takes experience to learn to handle the slack and sticky dough without wrecking the texture. Good luck!

Mike Bastian

Sunday 7th of March 2021

Hi, Made a 2# loaf. 3 cups bread flour, 1cup 10 grain hot cereal mix, 1.5 cup milk @85F 4 tab butter soft cut in PCs 1/3 cup brown sugar. Used a Zoji BB-CEC20 on basic setting. Loaf was good however it collapsed onto itself. Help! Thank you

Paula

Sunday 7th of March 2021

Hi Mike,

I'm assuming you were baking your bread in the bread machine, right? Did you add salt? No salt will cause this. Also, over proofing can cause it. Did you open the lid and check the dough as it was kneading to make sure it was the right consistency? Bread dough that is too wet will also do this.

My advice? Use the machine for what it does best: mixing and kneading. Select the DOUGH cycle. Then remove the dough from the pan, shape it, let it rise one more time, then bake it in your oven. You will have a much better chance of getting a delicious AND beautiful loaf with a lovely crust.

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