Sandwich bread

A white sandwich loaf baked in a pan This is where you learn to knead. A plain white dough takes about 6 to 8 minutes by hand to become a smooth ball, long enough to feel it change from shaggy to springy under your palms. The pan then makes shaping low-stakes: roll the dough into a log, let it rise until it domes about an inch over the rim, and bake. Reading that dome is the start of judging proof by eye, the skill sourdough asks of you most often. A thermometer reading of 190°F (88°C) at the center takes the guesswork out of doneness, and you get a week of toast for your trouble.