Which term means to rise or make rise, involving physical, chemical, and natural leavening?

• A. Proofing
• B. Fermentation
• C. Leavening
• D. Hydration

Answer: (A)

Proofing is the stage where dough is allowed to rise and expand in volume, driven by leavening that can come from physical, chemical, or natural sources. It focuses on the rise itself and the conditions that let it happen—temperature, humidity, and time. Fermentation is the gas-producing microbial process behind natural leavening, but it’s more about how the rise is created rather than the rising stage itself. Leavening describes the overall process of making dough rise, while hydration refers to water content. So proofing best fits the idea of rising or making rise in dough through any leavening method.