I have a super recipe for Italian bread, which I make 3-4 times a week. However, the crust comes out soft, which I like. But other family members would like a hard crust. Do you have any suggestions on how to get the crust hard? Thank you very much!

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2000

Answers

Mix an egg white and 1/4 tsp. of water together and brush it onto the bread just before you putting it into the oven. That should give you the hard crust you are looking for.

-- Anonymous, April 24, 2000

Try steam in the oven. A pan of water at the bottom or a hot dry pan that you add water to just before adding the bread to be baked. Another idea is to be sure there is plenty of air circulation as the bread cools, a wire rack & or a fan moving the air in the ro

-- Anonymous, May 03, 2000