So my dough seems to be rising and everything tastes good, but it does not rise near as high as in the pictures. It tastes great and has nice holes, but not thick enough to cut into a sandwich. It seems to grow outward on the pan instead of upward. I just realized I was using active dry...could that be my problem? Also my dough seems shiny but not AS shiny as the pics. What improves that? Yes, Melani, active dry just plain isn't as active or fast as instant. As for shiny - knead longer, I'd say. Hope you're not kneading by hand. In a stand mixer, it would be about 7 minutes, I think? Bread machine should make it shiny. Then again, mine might simply LOOK shinier in the picture because of the lighting or something... As for rising up, not out, it sounds like your dough is a tiny bit too much on the wet side. Make it a tad less wet; knead it more to develop the gluten more; and give it another try, OK? good luck - PJH

• Reply