White Bread with Muttai Podimas

Form the Dough

• To the yeast mixture, add the melted butter, salt, and about half of the all-purpose flour.
• Mix with a dough hook on low speed or a wooden spoon until combined.
• Gradually add the remaining flour, mixing until a shaggy dough forms that pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

Knead the Dough

• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead by hand for 8-10 minutes, or continue with a stand mixer's dough hook on medium-low speed for 6-8 minutes.
• The dough is ready when it's smooth, elastic, and passes the 'windowpane test': a small piece should stretch thin enough to see light through it without tearing.

First Rise

• Form the dough into a ball. Lightly grease a large bowl with oil or butter.
• Place the dough in the bowl, turning it once to coat the top.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel.
• Let it rise in a warm, draft-free spot for 60-90 minutes, or until it has doubled in size. The exact time will depend on the temperature of your room.

Shape the Loaf and Second Rise

• Gently punch down the risen dough to release the air. Transfer it to a lightly floured surface.
• Press the dough into a rectangle roughly 8 inches wide.
• Roll the rectangle up tightly into a log. Pinch the seam and the ends firmly to seal.
• Place the log, seam-side down, into a greased 9x5 inch loaf pan.
• Cover the pan loosely with plastic wrap and let it rise for another 30-45 minutes, until the dough has risen about 1 inch above the rim of the pan.

Bake the Bread

• About 20 minutes into the second rise, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
• Place the loaf pan on the center rack of the preheated oven.
• Bake for 30-35 minutes. The crust should be a deep golden brown. To check for doneness, the internal temperature should be 190-200°F (88-93°C), or it should sound hollow when you tap the bottom.
• If the top browns too quickly, tent it loosely with aluminum foil for the last 10 minutes of baking.

Cool and Slice

• Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes.
• Carefully turn the loaf out onto a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents a soggy bottom.
• It is crucial to let the bread cool for at least 1-2 hours before slicing. Slicing while warm can result in a gummy texture as the internal structure is still setting.