What Causes Crust to Brown

Browning happens from the “Maillard reaction” – where amino acids and sugars react at higher temperatures. Think searing steaks, toasting marshmallows and crusty bread. We need to expose the pizza crust to heat for long enough for this to happen.

Why the crust turns brown when the bread is baked?

It could be that your oven achieves the proper temperature but dips too low for too long before warming back up. Which could mean your bread spends too much time in the lower temperature range during baking to achieve that golden-brown crust you are after.

How do you make bread crust brown?

The best way to brown and crisp your bread’s bottom crust – as well as enhance its rise – is to bake it on a preheated pizza stone or baking steel. The stone or steel, super-hot from your oven’s heat, delivers a jolt of that heat to the loaf, causing it to rise quickly.