"Punching down" dough is said in reference to the part of the process in making yeast-levened bread where, after initially set aside to rise, the dough is "punched down" and deflated in order to redistribute the air bubbles created by the yeast.
Yeast dough is dough (basically a mixture of flour, water, salt) to which yeast (a form of fungi) has been added to cause the dough to 'rise', add in dimension by filling the dough with carbon dioxide given off by the yeast. Dough without yeast does not expand.
because its fun
no its not
The yeast cells in bread dough ferment sugars and produce gas (carbon dioxide). This makes the dough rise.
gluten
Yeast dough will rise when the dough has active yeast, sugar, and is held at the right temperature. The rising is caused by carbon dioxide that is formed from the yeast as it breaks down sugar.
Yeast is added to bread along with moisture and sugar, and the dough is kept in a moist, warm environment. During this rising time, the yeast consumes the sugar in the dough and release CO2 gas, which is trapped in the dough and causes the dough to rise. When the dough is baked, the yeast is killed, but the bubbles created by the gas remain.
Yeast. The correct answer, is yeast.
The yeast consumes the natural sugars in the dough and causes bubbles to form. This causes the dough to rise. It's being blown up by the yeast.
Yeast is used to make bread by fermenting the dough.
Yeast is a fungus. I wouldn't imagine it would feel anything like play dough.