What to Do If Your Bread Dough Won't Rise

You mixed everything, kneaded, waited — and the dough just sits there like a lump. Before starting over, diagnose the problem.

First, test if the yeast is alive: dissolve a teaspoon of yeast in warm water (about 38°C) with a pinch of sugar. If it bubbles within 10 minutes, the yeast is fine. If the yeast is alive but the dough is slow, move it to a warmer spot — a turned-off oven with just the light on works perfectly. If the yeast is dead, there's no saving this batch. Start over with fresh yeast and check the expiration date.