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June 6

Baking bread

During this enforced idleness I've been trying to bake my own bread. It also saves on unnecessary shopping trips. Most recipes I've looked at say wait for the dough to double in size during proving. But is that double in height and width, or double in volume? There is a factor of eight difference! SpinningSpark 12:59, 6 June 2020 (UTC)[reply]

You've got to remember that for the majority of humanity's breadmaking, they weren't measuring all that exactly and so would have generally meant "until it's noticeably bigger." This site recommends going with a poke test (though that's not an option with some baked goods), as does this one, this one, etc... Ian.thomson (talk) 13:15, 6 June 2020 (UTC)[reply]

This page also recommends the poke test too, but also states, "The proving is complete once the dough has nearly doubled in bulk". For criticism of the formula "Let shaped dough rise until it has doubled in size" (and some mathematical considerations), look here. --Lambiam 21:04, 6 June 2020 (UTC)[reply]

I tried making some mini baguettes with the poke test today, but I think they are only fit for throwing at cats trespassing in the garden. SpinningSpark 00:25, 7 June 2020 (UTC)[reply]

The most "authentic" baguettes I've had were only soft toward the middle, getting chewier toward the outside and hard at the crust -- but I've not yet made the mistake of going to Paris.

A lot of cookery, especially baking, is one of those skills where you have to mess up during your first few times and it's best to master simpler recipes first. Have you tried flatbreads or beer breads yet? Ian.thomson (talk) 00:37, 7 June 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Ian is 100% right. My experience has been that you can't learn why the baking goes right until you do it wrong :-) If you want to watch people get it both right and wrong you might want to check out this series The Great British Bake Off. It is on the Netflix streaming service but it might also be on others if you don't have that one. Have fun in your yeast pursuits! MarnetteD|Talk 01:07, 7 June 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Case in point, the second time I tried making Angel food cupcakes, I accidentally made marshmallows. Ian.thomson (talk) 01:28, 7 June 2020 (UTC)[reply]