Tagged Questions

1
vote
3answers
66 views

bread flour strength?

ive got a new recipe that I really want to try, but it calls for bread flour and doesnt mention the bread flour strength, ive got strong bread flour, is that what they meant? or if not will that ...
2
votes
1answer
57 views

Effect of adding wet ingredients to dry when making bread?

I inadvertently omitted the eggs from my challah recipe, but realized this only after the final step of mixing in and after fully incorporating the flour. Rather than throwing everything away, I ...
2
votes
2answers
81 views

Is it possible to make breads using cake techniques?

Is it possible to make bread using similar batters/techniques as cakes? Or why isn't is possible to make breads using similar techniques or batters as a cake?
4
votes
2answers
125 views

How can I score wet bread dough more easily?

I've noticed that it is dramatically easier to score firm bread dough than wet bread dough. But, sometimes it's good to work with a wet dough for other reasons. Any tips on how to score wet bread ...
7
votes
1answer
167 views

How to ship bread or bread dough?

I've been thinking about starting a boutique mail order dinner roll business. Dough While I'd really like to ship dough and allow customers to bake (per roll) at their leisure, I'm beginning to think ...
1
vote
3answers
387 views

Why does my dough never “fall” after its first rise?

My bread recipe (from Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day) calls for waiting for the dough to double, then "fall." It never falls, though I cover the dough as instructed (not airtight) either with a ...
2
votes
2answers
570 views

Does it make sense to refrigerate the dough made for Parathas to be used after 8 hours?

Paratha: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paratha Flour: Wheat flour Dough ingredients: Water Salt Wheat flour I am planning to make this dough in the evening and keep it in the fridge for 8 hours to ...
7
votes
4answers
692 views

Sticky and unmanagable sourdough

I've recently started a sourdough starter culture (using equal parts water and spelt flour) and have used it in a sourdough bread recipe I got from the Telegraph. I've halved the recipe in the article ...
6
votes
3answers
5k views

Can I let my bread dough rise in the mixer bowl?

When I bake bread, I often let the dough rise in the metal mixer bowl. I was wondering if this is a good idea, as the metal is probably colder than a regular bowl and may inhibit rising. Would it be ...
5
votes
1answer
1k views

How can you tell whether bread dough is ready for baking?

I've tried to make a special bread for making 'torrijas', the Spanish version of French toast. Very popular during easter, here. Twice, the bread didn't rise correctly in the oven, even after ...
5
votes
1answer
608 views

What is the difference between a poolish and a biga?

Both poolish and biga are pre-ferments. Poolish is a French name, biga an Italian term. What other differences are there between the two? Just to give some direction: are there differences in making ...
6
votes
2answers
523 views

How should I clean, or care for, a banneton (brotform, proofing basket)?

How should I care for a rattan (cane) banneton? It would seem that washing it in water would eventually warp or ruin the basket since the wood can easily absorb moisture. I've seen people suggest ...
9
votes
4answers
1k views

How can I prevent dough from wrapping around a dough hook?

I have a 5.5qt KitchenAid stand mixer with the burnished spiral ("pigtail") dough hook. This is not the C-hook. When I make a small amount (for example, using 250g of flour or approximately 2 cups) of ...
7
votes
5answers
14k views

What should I cover bread dough with while it's rising?

If you let (bread) dough rise, the recipe always asks to cover it. Years ago, I read to cover it with a wet towel. Nowadays, I see more and more recipes that ask for plastic wrap (aka saran or cling ...
6
votes
2answers
368 views

How careful do you have to be with adding flour for kneading?

When you're working a dough (kneading or rolling out), instructions often say to flour the surface you're working on and your rolling pin or hands. This helps the dough to stick less. However, I ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views

Does resting kneaded dough for few hours change the taste/texture/softness of parathas?

We use the kneaded dough for making parathas. Does resting kneaded dough for few hours (covered, on shelf) change the taste/texture/softness of the final outcome? P.S. After kneading the dough, all ...
2
votes
2answers
2k views

Egg replacer for bread dough?

I've been reading (most) questions and answers (here) about baking bread (which I love) and how to replace eggs in many recipes (which I wish I didn't need). Turns out, I too have egg allergy (not too ...
3
votes
2answers
172 views

Should you freeze pastry lukewarm? If so, why?

I have a book about baking in general. In the chapter 'Preserving pastry in the freezer' is the following sentence (I translated it for practical reasons): Pastry should be frozen as fresh as ...
4
votes
1answer
739 views

How can I modify corn bread recipes to accomodate a wet filling?

I am hoping to make dough cups using a corn bread style dough. My approximate recipe would be, presumably, to par-bake initially, then fill with a pot pie style liquid/solid mixture, top with a corn ...
5
votes
1answer
1k views

What is the purpose of oil or butter in bread?

Specifically in wheat and potato breads, what is the purpose of adding oil or butter to the dough? I have always assumed it was just for flavor, but I suspect there is some background chemical ...
2
votes
2answers
3k views

What does 'turn out' mean in bread baking?

An instruction in this recipe says: Gently turn loaf out onto a sheet pan that has been lightly oiled and dusted with cornmeal. I am confused by the use of the words "turn out". Does this ...
5
votes
2answers
482 views

What is the easiest way to measure bread's rising?

How can I easily measure the volume of my bread as it rises? I usually eyeball it or test for feel, but this isn't very accurate, and definitely isn't getting the full rising potential out of it. ...
6
votes
9answers
6k views

In my new mixer, my bread dough gets wrapped around the kneading hook. What should I do?

I just got a new stand mixer - a nice, heavy 500W mixer with a 5-liter bowl. Until now, I'd been making bread by hand and kneading it on the countertop. So the first thing I tried was using the mixer ...
1
vote
4answers
409 views

what to make with a very high hydration dough?

I have accidently (due to tiredness and unit-conversion) made what I think is roughly a 100% hydration dough. I have used strong white bread flour. I was intending to make some "no-kneed" bread, so ...
2
votes
1answer
298 views

How to adapt recipes to hard wheat flour

Unlike in the USA, flour in most European countries isn't differentiated by protein content. The distinction criteria in Germany are "type", which concerns the proportion of bran contained, and, (for ...
10
votes
2answers
2k views

How much warm is warm water?

I'm following a recipe for making dough for a challah recipe, and the recipe calls for warm water. How warm should the water be (in degrees)? Do I need to heat it, or is room-temperature good enough? ...
7
votes
4answers
3k views

My sourdough starter is bubbling but not rising, suggestions?

I've been trying to grow my own sourdough starter; I went with a 'pure' method, with 50g each of hard-wheat flour from a local mill and water. I've fed it once and it seems to be bubbling nicely ...
12
votes
4answers
586 views

How to get threads in a yeast dough?

I think I may make some traditional food for Easter this year. What I love most is a type of rich sweet bread called kozunak. The perfect kozunak is defined by many qualities, but what I find hardest ...
3
votes
1answer
413 views

Lightening Bread

Is there a generally accepted method for lightening bread dough that is pretty general for a variety of breads; pizza crust, whole grain bread, dessert breads, etc.
13
votes
8answers
6k views

Why does leftover pizza dough make terrible bread?

I like to make my own pizza dough. Usually I end up with some leftover dough, which I stick in the fridge and then try to make into buns or something for breakfast the next morning. It never turns ...
15
votes
5answers
5k views

How warm must dough be in order to rise?

While making some focaccia this afternoon, my wife said, "sure the house is 'warm'; it'll be fine." One hour later, no rising. It may be worth noting that our house is 66F. So we stuck it in a warm ...
6
votes
2answers
1k views

Techniques for mixing bread dough with stand mixer

Can anyone tell me what the best technique is for using a stand mixer to make bread dough? I just got a stand mixer with a dough hook and have started using it for mixing and kneading bread dough. ...
5
votes
3answers
2k views

Why did mold develop on the top of my sourdough?

I made some sourdough starter from scratch, using garden grapes, flour and water. It was wonderful for the first few batches. Today, I was going to get another bread batch going, and when I looked ...
8
votes
1answer
542 views

Uses for Old bread dough

I found some old bread dough that I had left, sealed in tupperware, in my fridge. It has a powerful fermented smell, but doesn't appear to be moldy or otherwise bad. Is there any use for this ...
3
votes
3answers
498 views

pita bread crust too hard

I've baked my first pita bread in home, the pockets was almost well formed but the crust is hard, crunchy. I've applied some variations because of time/number/ingredients restrictions, in particular: ...
9
votes
2answers
4k views

Why does dough break when kneading, and how to prevent/ameliorate it?

I'm very new to bread-making in general; don't assume I'm necessarily doing anything right. During my last attempt at making quick (baking-powder-based) flatbread, I was attempting to flatten and ...
16
votes
3answers
3k views

What job is the fat doing when I prepare bread dough, and what to expect if I use the wrong amount?

I've been baking bread for years and no longer really measure the ingredients. But I'm no expert on the science of what I'm doing. I add fat (lard) because I've always added fat. What job does the ...
12
votes
10answers
8k views

How do you raise your dough in cold seasons?

It is winter down here in Australia and I find it challenging to find a warm spot to raise my bread dough. What I have been doing is placing the dough in the oven (not switched on) with a pot of hot ...
10
votes
3answers
555 views

Thick, moist, fluffy, flavorful pitas

Are there tricks for baking thick and fluffy pita bread? The ones I make come out fine, with an even puff and nice pockets, but they are on the thin side. I would really love to be able to make ...
13
votes
2answers
583 views

Storing bread dough before baking

I'm looking to make a start in the world of baking bread, and have a quick question: Once my dough is kneaded, proved and ready to go in the oven (i.e. in the tin) - does it need to be baked ...
22
votes
4answers
2k views

Does resting the dough for a long time reduce the need to knead the bread?

In this article by Chef Michael Smith, he mentions a recipe where leaving the dough to rest for 18 hours removes the need to knead the bread. Is this a viable substitute? I've tried the recipe and ...