Nothing beats the smell and taste of homemade bread, unless it's the appetizing appearance of homemade bread cooling on the counter. An egg wash is easy to add to the bread and adds a glazed appearance and golden color to the finished bread. Here are some helpful tips to apply an egg wash to bread dough.
Instructions
1. Make the homemade bread according to recipe directions. Let the bread rise until it's double in bulk, then shape into loaves. Allow the bread to rise again according to your favorite recipe.
2. Take the egg out of the refrigerator while the bread dough is doubling in bulk. The egg needs to be at room temperature for an egg wash. A cold egg may stop the bread from rising.
3. Crack the egg on a flat surface into a small bowl. The flat surface keeps egg shells intact, and the chance of stray egg shell pieces getting into the egg wash are minimal.
4. Whip the egg with a fork or small whisk. Use an "over and under" motion to whip the egg. Continue to whip the egg until it is smooth and no strings cling to the fork. If the egg is too thick, add just a speck of water or milk to the egg wash. The water or milk, less than a half of a teaspoon, helps to thin the egg wash and makes it easier to apply to the bread.
5. Dip a brush into the egg wash to apply to the bread. The brush can be a pastry brush or even a new, unused paintbrush. Dip the brush in about half way, so the bristles have egg wash on them half way up the brush.
6. Apply the egg wash to the bread dough using light strokes so the bread shape remains intact. Use long strokes to cover the top of the bread, including the very top and end of the loaf.
7. Bake the bread according to your recipe directions. It's best to bake bread on the center rack in your oven, which allows room for the bread to rise as it is baking.
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