"Vox Humana" > wrote in message > ...
> That's fine for the first rise or two. I believe that the OP may have been
> referring to the final rise after the product has been formed. I don't like
> to use towels and I have had a number of incidents where plastic wrap has
> become hopelessly stuck to the loaves.

Exactly, Vox. I let the dough sit in the bread machine container for
the first rise or two (since I'll be deflating it anyway). It's the
final rise after I've shaped it that I find works just as well au
nataral, sitting on the peel (or in my case, the rimless lid to my
stove-top smoker). Like you I've had plastic wrap stuck in loaves and
I don't own a bowl large enough to cover the final boule. So I
started letting it rise in the open air and it all seems to have
worked out so far-- no cracked skins. Worst-case: I lightly spritz
the skin half way through. I can't believe I'm the only person to do
this.

jk