Simple thing for getting bread to be crusty is to put a small pie pan of hot water in the oven while baking it.

Alternatively, if you want a soft crust (a la wonderbread) brush the crust with some milk before baking.

My favorite bread book is Elizabeth David’s English Bread and Yeast Cookery, by the way.


As for where you started with questions, what flour are you using?

I also think most people try to get their dough to rise too fast. A longer rise at a lower temperature works best.