100% Whole Wheat Crusty No Knead Artisan Bread

Here is a fool proof 100% Whole Wheat Bread Recipe that is very easy to do.  It does require planning ahead, but once you figure that out, you will make bread all the time!  

I calculated the cost for making this bread using high quality ingredients and total cost is $1.81 per loaf, much cheaper than what you pay at the market. 

The day before you want to make bread, you will mix the ingredients to allow for 18-24 hours fermentation time.
 

Step 1 Equipment and Ingredients needed

Ingredients:

Whole wheat flour
Vital wheat gluten
Salt
Yeast

Equipment needed:

5 quart bowl or container
Baking stone or tiles
Metal broiler pan
Parchment paper
Dish towels
Cookie sheet
Scale

Comments

[DanYHKim]

During the Fall and early Winter, I make my dough in a large stock pot, and store it with the lid on out on our porch. Keep it out of the sun, and it will live there pretty happily for a few days until I bake it.

[DanYHKim]

Safety note: When adding water to the broiler tray of the oven, be careful of the giant cloud of hot steam that will shoot out. If you're standing right in front of the oven, you will be hit right in the face.

Also, the tray may suddenly warp with the addition of cold water on the hot metal. It springs right back, but the sound is alarming. Just be aware that it will happen.

[claudiaivonnefranco]

I sometimes bake it in loaf pans and don't use the tiles.

[frankierozelle]

I thought of using pans, but really wanted that whole loaf look.
But what about the lack of the bread rising? It didn't rise a bit.
and when it cooked, it just spread out like one gigantic cow pie.

[claudiaivonnefranco]

Like I said previously, you need EXTRA gluten to help whole wheat flour rise. Also make sure your yeast is fresh. If your bread spread out, it had too much water.

[frankierozelle]

I followed all steps according to recipe and all my stages looked identical to the photos, until the rising process. It did not rise one bit.
I grind my own whole wheat, and did not have gluten on hand, so maybe I should have used more yeast? Also, I don't have baking stones or tiles. But I don't see how that would affect the baking process that much.
thank you.

[claudiaivonnefranco]

The only way to make 100% whole wheat without kneading is with the addition of extra gluten. It helps make the structure for rising. It is the key ingredient! Make sure your yeast is fresh. I made some bread from fresh ground wheat and it usually doesn't rise as much as store bought flour.

[mothersson2002]

IS it possible that yo
u could you give the amounts for half of that recipe?

[claudiaivonnefranco]

Whole Wheat Flour 455 grams (16 ounces or 3 3/4 cups)
Vital wheat gluten 15 grams (0.75 ounces or 2 tablespoons)
Yeast 2.5 grams (1/2 teaspoon)
Salt 10-15 grams (3/4-1 tablespoons)
Water, tap or filtered 425 grams ( 2 cups)

[mothersson2002]

Is the gluten essential for this recipe?>

[claudiaivonnefranco]

Well the answer to this question has a few different possibilities.  One is expectation!  If you have done a lot of baking with white flour, you will feel your whole wheat bread is not rising well.  In fact, whole wheat breads don’t rise as much due to the lack of gluten in the flour.
 
Adding gluten flour to your bread will help this.  I add gluten flour to my bread in order to get it to rise better. If you use white flour, it isn't necessary.

[mothersson2002]

Thank you. Yes, I do use whole wheat and have wondered why my crusty breads have not risen as mush as the pictures in the recipes that I have used did.