Ziploc Bread in a Bag Science Experiment

Bread in a bag science experiment! Ziploc bag bread activity inspires kids to do something new they’ve never tried before.

Ziplock Bag Bread

• My 3 daughters already have an interest in cooking, but they hadn’t explored baking a lot yet.
• It was time to make homemade bread this week!

This is a simple bread recipe where you do not need a bread machine or even a stand mixer. Just use a lightly floured surface once you’ve mixed all ingredients in a freezer bag and bake.

• Once we partnered with 4-H and looked thru their new Inspire Kids to Do Activity Guide, this bread in a bag activity stuck out as something really fun to try!

Bread in a Bag Ingredients

Another thing about baking bread this way is that there is no warm spot needed in order for it to rise which makes for a faster end result.

• I suppose you could use mini loaf pans instead of a traditional size too. Just alter the cook time for the smaller size.

Like it says in its name, the program is to inspire kids to do something new they may have not experienced before.

• Last month we shared what the 4-H Program is all about and how you can find a chapter near you. I’d recommend getting involved!

Here’s a peek at our activity we did together and how easy it was……

Bread in a Bag PDF

We got the instructions from Inspire Kids to Do Activity Guide here and I had them follow the directions themselves. I told them I was here to help but I really wanted them to see that they could do it and create bread in a bag from start to finish themselves and they did!

Of course I was there when they needed clarification, and the 2 who participated are 10 & 11 years old.

• If your kids are younger you’d of course need to help more, but for the most part they loved seeing how the ingredients transformed into dough.

Making bread in a bag

Add dry milk, flour, sugar and a yeast packet into a large freezer bag zipped at the top.

1. Get air out of the bag before closing
2. Mix all those ingredients together well using your hands.
3. Add oil and a cup of very hot water (I helped with this). We used the Keurig to heat it up easily and pour that in.
4. Use a dish towel wrapped around the freezer bag to mix those ingredients together. Really knead it with your fingers so it is combined well.
5. Add whole wheat flour and knead for a while until it resembles bread dough. Open bag.

Next, add the final cup of flour a little at a time until it reaches bread consistency.

Bread Made in a Plastic Bag

1. Then they learned how to knead the dough on a cutting board with the palms of their hands. Something totally new to them.
2. Allowing it to rest for 10 minutes. They learned this is a necessary element of making bread.
3. Deciding whether they wanted to make a loaf of bread or rolls was next. 1 chose the loaf and 1 chose rolls which was good so we could see which we liked better.
4. Bake at 375 degrees for about 25 minutes to 30 minutes.
   1. Talk about why you preheat oven to 375 before putting it in, or it won’t bake properly.
5. Check to make sure it is done by inserting a knife into the center.
6. Slice, dip in melted butter and enjoy.

Here she is with her loaf done. Bread in a bag success!

If baking isn’t an interest of yours there are tons of other fun activities to do with your kids on the 4-H Inspire Kids to Do Activity Guide.

Put some time aside this weekend and look at it together. See what stands out and then get everything ready. It is a great way to connect with your kids. We all want that right??!!

If you’re interested in the Inspire Kids to Do activity that we did together here are complete instructions.

Bread in a bag Recipe

1. All-purpose flour
   1. this is how to measure flour correctly
2. Wheat flour
3. Gallon Ziploc bag
4. Hot water
   1. we used our Keurig to get hot fast, help them once you combine 1 cup into the bag
5. Oil
6. Salt
7. Non fat dry milk
8. Yeast
9. Sugar
10. Dishtowel or oven mitts to do the mixing
11. Rolling pin, or if you don’t have one kneading well with the palms of your hands works well too
12. Cutting board to knead the dough

Looking for more bread recipes? Of course you can make homemade white bread, or others below!

Baking Bread with Kids

• If you want to make more bread recipes at home try this low carb cloud bread too.
• Our pull apart bread is amazing too and oh so easy.
• This is how to make Challah
  • Making Crockpot bread and air fryer bread is fun too.
• Baking bread at home is easier than you might think.
• For more fun using a variation from this recipe we made air fryer pretzel bites too!

The complete directions are below in the printable version.

If you want to know how to half a recipe to make less, read this post. Tip: Spray your pan with non stick spray to clean a pot.