With this simple recipe, you can craft perfect burger buns in just 3 to 4 hours. These buns boast an optimal balance of firmness and softness, providing the ideal foundation for any burger without crumbling.
Ingredients:
- 300g (about 2 1/2 cups) of Italian “tipo 1” flour (w300), or alternatively, bread flour
- 75g (about 1/3 cup) of water
- 75g (about 1/3 cup) of milk
- 6g (about 1 1/4 teaspoons) of fresh yeast
- 5g (about 1 teaspoon) of sugar
- 4g (about 3/4 teaspoon) of salt
- 30g (about 2 tablespoons) of butter
- 1/2 egg
For brushing:
- 1/2 egg
- 30g of milk (about 2 tablespoons)
Instructions:
Dough (1:00 pm)
In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the flour, water, milk, egg, sugar, yeast, and salt in the specified order. Knead until a homogeneous mixture forms. Incorporate the softened butter and continue kneading until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 8-10 minutes. 2.
Rising (1:15 pm – 2:30 pm)
Shape the dough into a ball after kneading and place it in an oiled bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid, then allow the dough to rise in a warm location (25°C / 77°F) for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until it doubles in size.
Shaping (2:30 pm)
Once risen, divide the dough into equal portions and shape them into round buns. You should be able to make 6 buns, each weighing about 85/86 grams. Arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving adequate space between each bun. Optionally, sprinkle sesame seeds or other types of seeds on the bun surfaces.
Second rising (2:40 pm – 3:40 pm)
Allow the buns to rise in a turned-off oven, maintaining a temperature of approximately 26-28°C (about 80-82°F), for about 1 hour. Note that the buns will continue to rise outside the oven as it heats up.
Preparation for baking (3:20 pm)
Remove the risen buns from the oven and preheat it to 240°C (about 465°F) in static mode. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining half egg and milk. Gently brush this mixture onto the buns.
Baking (3:40 pm)
Place the buns in the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes at 240°C (about 465°F) on the lower rack. After the initial 10 minutes, elevate the baking sheet slightly higher in the oven and continue baking for another 5 minutes or until the buns turn golden brown and are fully cooked.