1

After my pizza preparation, from a dough that has spent already a night in the fridge, I always leave about 200g of dough to make a small white pizza to accompany my meal on the day after my pizza night. So I have this 200g piece that has spent 48h in the fridge and that I take out, fold on itself several times to make a ball let it proof again for some hours at room temperature in a greased covered plastic container. Then at baking time, I spread the dough on a bed of semolina flour, trasfer it on a hot cast iron pan and let the bottom cook. After some minutes I sprinkle some oil and salt on the top and finish it under the grill for other few minutes. This is the outcome: soft and nice in the center.

enter image description here

This time I tried to skip the container part and let it proof on a bed of semolina flour covered with just an upside-down bowl. Same baking process but without salt and oil on top. This was the outcome: enter image description here

Can this be due to the fact that during proofing, in the second case, the dough dried out a bit not being in an air-tight container?

I do no think that this balloon-like effect is due to the lack of "weight" on the surface (no oil and salt). Sometimes I do omit the topping on the air-tight proofed dough as well and it develops more, but never to become a "balloon" this big.

Improve this question
2

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2

I wouldn't seek the reason in the proofing cover. People cover the dough with a simple towel, or not at all, without too many problems. Also, it seems that you are talking about covering during the second rise, and not about the third rise (after shaping) - any suggestions that drying out promotes a huge pocked under the crust assume that it dried out in its final shape.

Your problem is much more likely to stem from incorrect proofing, possibly overproofing. Since you are using a portion of the dough the same day, you probably have too much yeast for 48 hours of retarding.

Together with your baking method (stovetop first), it is no wonder you are getting this air pocket - in fact, this method is the one used where the pocket is intended, such as pita.

Improve this answer
1
  • These are the rises: Day 1) Bulk rise. Day2) Pizza day: one piece is taken away and the rest is left in the fridge, unshaped. Day3) Last piece is taken, shaped, proofed more or less badly covered and baked. The duration of this is comparable in the cases when the huge air pocket forms and when it doesn't or whether there is some topping or not.
    – David P
    Sep 5, 2021 at 14:10

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.