Description

This Instant Pot Bread recipe combines the convenience of pressure cooking with traditional baking techniques to create a perfectly risen, crusty homemade loaf. Using the Instant Pot’s yogurt setting for proofing accelerates the dough rise, followed by baking in a Dutch oven for a golden, crisp crust, making fresh bread easy and accessible without advanced baking skills.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon instant yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups warm water (105-110°F)

For Baking

Olive oil (for brushing)
Coarse salt (for sprinkling, optional)

Instructions

Mix dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, yeast, and salt. Pour in the warm water and stir until a dry, shaggy dough forms, ensuring all flour is incorporated but not overworked.
Proof dough: Lightly oil the liner of your Instant Pot to prevent sticking. Transfer the dough into the pot, close the lid with the valve set to vent, then select the ‘Yogurt’ setting and let it proof for 4 hours. The dough should double in size and develop tiny surface bubbles indicating readiness.
Shape loaf: Gently transfer the risen dough to a lightly floured surface and shape it into a tight, round loaf, being careful not to deflate it. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 450°F and place a Dutch oven inside to heat thoroughly. Brush the shaped loaf with olive oil and sprinkle with coarse salt if desired.
Bake bread: Remove the preheated Dutch oven from the oven, place the dough inside on parchment paper if available, cover with the lid, and bake for 30 minutes. Then remove the lid and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing to ensure the crumb sets properly.

Notes

Ensure the water temperature is between 105-110°F to activate yeast without killing it.
You can substitute all-purpose flour with bread flour for a chewier texture.
Using parchment paper makes transferring the dough easier and prevents sticking.
Let the bread cool fully before slicing to avoid a gummy texture inside.
The proofing time may vary depending on room temperature; warmer environments may require less time.
This bread does not contain dairy or eggs and is naturally vegan.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Category: Bread
Method: Instant Pot
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Instant Pot bread, homemade bread, easy bread recipe, no-knead bread, Dutch oven bread, yogurt setting bread