Everyone makes mistakes when they are in the kitchen. Most of the
time, we brush them off and continue about our business with little
disappointment - but what happens when you are expected to produce a
fine loaf of bread and cannot afford to miscalculate things and start
over from scratch? Here are the most common mistakes people make when
they are attempting to follow an Artisan Bread recipe. Pay attention
and avoid these pitfalls, and you will be well on your way to
consistently producing flavorful loaves of Artisan Bread.
The Bland Loaf
Unless you're a purposely creating a loaf without any additional
flavor, the most common ingredient people forget to add is salt. In
ancient times, salt was never used when creating traditional bread,
and was only introduced in the Middle ages as a natural preservative
and a flavoring agent. Nowadays, every baked item calls for a certain
amount of salt in order to excite the taste buds. This mistake also
applies to any other ingredient used to modify the flavor of your
ArtisanBread. Pay attention to your recipe and put in your ingredients
when directed. Don't take it for granted that you will always remember
- refer to your book just to be safe!
Dough that over-rises
Modern yeast strains act fast and are extremely efficient. Therefore,
if you leave them to activate for longer than your specified times,
you may end up with a loaf of Artisan Bread that "over-rises' and
spills out over the edges of your pans. Simply trim away the excess,
gather the individual pieces and mold them into a larger piece that
you can bake as a roll. Lightly brush some olive oil on a pan, form
your rolls from the excess dough and allow them to proof for 20
minutes. Once they have raised a small amount, pop them into the oven
and you will have some smaller rolls to accompany your larger Artisan
Bread.
Choking out your yeast
It is very easy to choke the life out of your yeast when you mix the
dry ingredients in water that is far too hot. Always remember to keep
it lukewarm in order to give the yeast a nice environment to activate
and develop. You can invest in a small cooking thermometer if you're
really unsure if hot is too hot. Some Artisan Bread recipes even call
for cool water for slower activation (I have yet to try this, but
apparently the results are interesting.)
Storing Extra Dough
Sometimes you have far too much dough on hand and not enough counter
space, pans to make loaves, or room in your oven. You don't need to
pitch out that extra dough if you don't have time to bake it right
away. You can easily store the dough after it has risen in a large
zipper-bag, in a bowl with a plastic wrap covering or airtight
container and keep it in the fridge for up to a week. As long as the
dough doesn't have access to a lot of air, it will remain at the same
stage (and even develop a bit of a sourdough flavor as it ages). Try
this out if you want to attempt an Artisan Bread recipe with a
different dough flavor.
Burning your Bread
It sounds like a no-brainer - don't leave your bread in the oven too
long or in one that is too hot or it will burn. But it is easy to
miscalculate times, and there have been occasions where the dough has
risen in less than ideal conditions, which could lead to premature
burning or over baking. Always make sure you follow your Artisan Bread
Recipes properly, but be prepared to account for any temperature or
humidity changes in the environment where the dough is allowed to
rise. Monitor your baking periodically and make adjustments as you see
fit. The key to making Artisan bread lies in the careful modification
throughout the process. It isn't a matter of setting it and forgetting
it. More care is needed during baking than typical loaves of bread.
With these reminders on how to avoid making mistakes while baking your
Artisan Bread, you should be able to easily craft some tasty examples
for you and your friends and family to enjoy. Keep practicing and
following your recipes, but always remember that you can experiment in
order to create an Artisan Bread that is unique and in your style.
For more information on Artisan Bread Recipes, visit this site for
reviews and comparisons of the best Artisan Bread Recipe books written
by some of the world's best Artisan bakers.

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