Sourdough (rec.food.sourdough) Discussing the hobby or craft of baking with sourdough. We are not just a recipe group, Our charter is to discuss the care, feeding, and breeding of yeasts and lactobacilli that make up sourdough cultures.

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  #1 (permalink)   Report Post  
Dick Adams
 
Posts: n/a
Default Kneading, hydration, gluten content, and holes (coarsely-textured crumb)

See also the thread named: Will - Hydration alone producing=20
gluten structure.

Which is the best way to obtained coarsely-texture bread (big holes)?
Well, here again I make one more small effort to continue my search.

In this case: intense kneading, 75% hydration, bread flour (~14% =
protein),
two rises proceeded by stretching and folding. This is straight dough,
not sourdough.

The proposition is that stretching and folding later on in the rise may
coalesce some bubbles, for a more open eventual texture.

Please see results at:
http://www.prettycolors.com/bread%5F...ad2/index.html

This may be compared with a previous experiment at:
http://www.prettycolors.com/bread%5F...ead/index.html
That involved only one stretch and fold cycle.

Some people are telling that the way to get the big holes is to
mix only, not knead, and let the mixed dough sit in the fridge for
a long time so it will have a chance to knead itself. It would be
very helpful to me if those people would show their photographs
since, at the rate I am going, I may not have time to try everything
myself. I think some are recommending low-gluten flour.

Yes, it is not sourdough. But sourdough makes the experiments
longer and more critical. I would like to make loaves like Iggy's
Francense (which is sourdough) but do not feel I am getting even
close. Please use the following link to see what I mean:
http://www.prettycolors.com/bread%5Fculture/iggys.htm

So help me if you can. Well, probably I am beyond help -- I am
crazily obsessed with these big elusive holes. Well, my wife and
family just loves my regular bread so maybe I should stick to that.

--=20
Dick Adams
<firstname> dot <lastname> at bigfoot dot com
___________________
Sourdough FAQ guide at=20
http://www.nyx.net/~dgreenw/sourdoughfaqs.html

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Wcsjohn
 
Posts: n/a
Default

>
>See also the thread named: Will - Hydration alone producing=20
>gluten structure.
>
>Which is the best way to obtained coarsely-texture bread (big holes)?
>Well, here again I make one more small effort to continue my search.
>
>In this case: intense kneading, 75% hydration, bread flour (~14% =
>protein),
>two rises proceeded by stretching and folding. This is straight dough,
>not sourdough.
>
>The proposition is that stretching and folding later on in the rise may
>coalesce some bubbles, for a more open eventual texture.
>
>Please see results at:
>http://www.prettycolors.com/bread%5F...ad2/index.html
>
>This may be compared with a previous experiment at:
>http://www.prettycolors.com/bread%5F...ead/index.html
>That involved only one stretch and fold cycle.
>
>Some people are telling that the way to get the big holes is to
>mix only, not knead, and let the mixed dough sit in the fridge for
>a long time so it will have a chance to knead itself. It would be
>very helpful to me if those people would show their photographs
>since, at the rate I am going, I may not have time to try everything
>myself. I think some are recommending low-gluten flour.
>
>Yes, it is not sourdough. But sourdough makes the experiments
>longer and more critical. I would like to make loaves like Iggy's
>Francense (which is sourdough) but do not feel I am getting even
>close. Please use the following link to see what I mean:
>http://www.prettycolors.com/bread%5Fculture/iggys.htm
>
>So help me if you can. Well, probably I am beyond help -- I am
>crazily obsessed with these big elusive holes. Well, my wife and
>family just loves my regular bread so maybe I should stick to that.
>
>--=20
>Dick Adams
><firstname> dot <lastname> at bigfoot dot com
>___________________
>Sourdough FAQ guide at=20
>http://www.nyx.net/~dgreenw/sourdoughfaqs.html
>
>
>
>
>
>
>


Dick,

I'll answer more fully this evening (GMT) but here are 2 pix that may be of
interest, the first is straight yeast, the second the same bread but from
sourdough. I think I may have posted the second previously, if so, my
apologies.

http://www.zippyimages.com/files/109452/DSC00023.jpg
http://www.zippyimages.com/files/109454/DSC00077.jpg

I do have more difficulty making large holed bread from sourdough, but one
thing to say immediately is that I use at least 80% hydration and 4-6 stretch
and fold cycles, depending on how the dough reacts.

The bread in both pictures was made at 110% hydration. I think, next time I
will cut back to 105% on the SD version to compensate for the extra dough
relaxation that SD seems to exhhibit.

And, yes, once the "Big Hole Bug" strikes, rationality goes walkabout and "Size
is everything"<g>.

John





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Wcsjohn
 
Posts: n/a
Default

>
>See also the thread named: Will - Hydration alone producing=20
>gluten structure.
>
>Which is the best way to obtained coarsely-texture bread (big holes)?
>Well, here again I make one more small effort to continue my search.


The only way I, personally, can reliably obtain large holes is by using
hydrations ranging from 80 to 110% with either intensive mechanical dough
development, stretch and fold, a Gosselin fridge rest or any combination of the
3.


>
>In this case: intense kneading, 75% hydration, bread flour (~14% =
>protein),
>two rises proceeded by stretching and folding. This is straight dough,
>not sourdough.
>
>The proposition is that stretching and folding later on in the rise may
>coalesce some bubbles, for a more open eventual texture.
>
>Please see results at:
>http://www.prettycolors.com/bread%5F...ad2/index.html
>
>This may be compared with a previous experiment at:
>http://www.prettycolors.com/bread%5F...ead/index.html
>That involved only one stretch and fold cycle.
>
>Some people are telling that the way to get the big holes is to
>mix only, not knead, and let the mixed dough sit in the fridge for
>a long time so it will have a chance to knead itself.


I have only found long fridge rest helpful to the production of holes when it
is a Gosselin rest. A long rest after fementation has not enhanced the
structure. (flavour is a different matter)

>It would be
>very helpful to me if those people would show their photographs
>since, at the rate I am going, I may not have time to try everything
>myself. I think some are recommending low-gluten flour.
>
>Yes, it is not sourdough. But sourdough makes the experiments
>longer and more critical.


Agreed. Unless you're a master of sourdough, which I most definitely am not,
the whole process of developing a new bread is most easily done with commercial
yeast and then converting to sourdough. Or so I find, at least.

> I would like to make loaves like Iggy's
>Francense (which is sourdough) but do not feel I am getting even
>close. Please use the following link to see what I mean:
>http://www.prettycolors.com/bread%5Fculture/iggys.htm


That is very fine bread, do you know anything about the techniques used?

>
>So help me if you can. Well, probably I am beyond help -- I am
>crazily obsessed with these big elusive holes.

The spider of Rustic Crumb winds another hapless victim in her coils<g>

>Well, my wife and
>family just loves my regular bread so maybe I should stick to that.
>


I don't always bake big holed bread, There's room for all kinds of bread in my
house just as long as it's good, of it's type.

>--=20
>Dick Adams
><firstname> dot <lastname> at bigfoot dot com
>___________________
>Sourdough FAQ guide at=20
>http://www.nyx.net/~dgreenw/sourdoughfaqs.html


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Brian Mailman
 
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Default

Dick Adams wrote:

> Please see results at:
> http://www.prettycolors.com/bread%5F...ad2/index.html


If you're speaking of the Middle-Eastern herb, it's more properly
transliterated as za'atar.

B/
  #5 (permalink)   Report Post  
Joe Doe
 
Posts: n/a
Default

In article
>,
"Dick Adams" > wrote:

> See also the thread named: Will - Hydration alone producing
> gluten structure.
>
> Which is the best way to obtained coarsely-texture bread (big holes)?
> Well, here again I make one more small effort to continue my search.
>
> In this case: intense kneading, 75% hydration, bread flour (~14% protein),
> two rises proceeded by stretching and folding. This is straight dough,
> not sourdough.
>
> The proposition is that stretching and folding later on in the rise may
> coalesce some bubbles, for a more open eventual texture.



The real rational for large irregular holes and shaping is the following:

When you stretch and fold you are creating layers of dough with large
air pockets. The number and distribution of the pockets will depend on
how hard you handle the dough - If you merely fold, one large air sheet
can be imagined. If you then stretch and fold again, the sheet will
have smaller pockets because smaller pockets will form as you handle the
dough (you are sticking together opposing sheets of dough by handling).
So with 2 or 3 cycles of stretching and folding you will have created a
larger network of air pockets irregularly distributed. If you handle
the dough very hard and squeeze all the air by squeezing the opposing
dough halves together in a stretch and fold cycle, you will have few
irregular holes. On the other hand if you are too gentle the final loaf
will have obvious sheets of air separating sheets of dough.

What I do is stretch and then roll up the dough (same effect as above).
The dough is then flattened out (gently so as to not squeeze out too
many air pockets) and rolled up at 90 degrees to the previous cycle. A
few cycles of this and you will get the effect you desire.

So the secret for large holes is during the shaping.

Roland


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Dick Adams
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Joe Doe" > wrote in message =
...

> What I do is stretch and then roll up the dough (same effect as =

above). =20
> The dough is then flattened out (gently so as to not squeeze out too=20
> many air pockets) and rolled up at 90 degrees to the previous cycle. =

A=20
> few cycles of this and you will get the effect you desire. So the =

secret=20
> for large holes is during the shaping.


Can you post some photos showing the holes in your bread?

> Roland


If your name is Roland, why do you identify as Joe Doe? The was a =
Roland
at r.f.s. once in past years -- he was very knowledgeable.

--=20
Dick Adams
(Sourdough minimalist)
___________________
Sourdough FAQ guide at=20
http://www.nyx.net/~dgreenw/sourdoughfaqs.html

  #7 (permalink)   Report Post  
Joe Doe
 
Posts: n/a
Default

In article
>,
"Dick Adams" > wrote:


>
> > Roland

>
> If your name is Roland, why do you identify as Joe Doe? The was a Roland
> at r.f.s. once in past years -- he was very knowledgeable.



Same Roland.

Just got tired of spam, hence the anonymity.

Almost gave up baking completely since moving to Texas (too hot to heat
up the house in summer). I let all my cultures die. Got a culture from
someone locally recently. Interestingly, this culture raises bread very
quickly but is very mild (it almost doubles every 1-2 hours). It is
almost akin to the SDI Russian starter.

Just started baking again and bake irregularly. Will post a picture
when I bake next.

Have lurked here occasionally every few years.

The level of knowledge and commitment to baking has grown tremendously
since the time I used to participate here long back.


Will probably, go back to lurk mode. Just jumped in here, because I
notice this question comes up often.

I think intensive kneading makes a uniform crumb. Wet doughs have
weaker walls of individual air cells so they may fuse to form larger
cells.

When you introduce the air pockets by shaping (i.e. make a rectangle and
then roll it up and repeat the cycle or do cycles of stretch and fold)
you are simply using a different trick to introduce air cells into the
dough.

Roland
  #8 (permalink)   Report Post  
Dick Adams
 
Posts: n/a
Default


Roland AKA "Joe Doe" > wrote in message =
...

> ... Will post a picture when I bake next.=20


That's good. I think that pictures are good for generating interest.

> ... Have lurked here occasionally every few years.


You should have said something. It can be depressing when people
disappear for years without a trace. =20
=20
> ... The level of knowledge and commitment to baking has grown=20
> tremendously since the time I used to participate here long back.


Not to mention commitment to yakity-yak and to cascaded requoting.

> ... I think intensive kneading makes a uniform crumb. Wet doughs have =


> weaker walls of individual air cells so they may fuse to form larger=20
> cells.


OK, looks like my next experiment should be with underkneaded wet
dough. =20
=20
> When you introduce the air pockets by shaping (i.e. make a rectangle =

and=20
> then roll it up and repeat the cycle or do cycles of stretch and =

fold)=20
> you are simply using a different trick to introduce air cells into the =


> dough. =20


Sounds good, but I don't want to try too many tricks at one time or I
won't know which trick(s?) did the trick.

---
DickA

P.S. I still have all the stuff you sent in my now fat sourdough =
notebook.
  #9 (permalink)   Report Post  
Wcsjohn
 
Posts: n/a
Default

<snip>
>
>I think intensive kneading makes a uniform crumb.


Not in my experience. I mix at relatively high speed for longer than most
bakers and stretch and fold a lot, making a dough (or glop<g>) that is
extremely elastic and extensible, giving the dough the abilty to form large
pockets that are stable enough to bake due to the strength of the cell walls.

I must stress that the preceding observations apply to high, 80%+ doughs.

>Wet doughs haveweaker walls of individual air cells so they may fuse to form

larger
>cells.


Not sure that "weaker" is how I would describe the elastic dough I produce<g>

>

<snip>

John
  #10 (permalink)   Report Post  
Dick Adams
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Wcsjohn" > wrote in message =
...

Roland had said:

> > I think intensive kneading makes a uniform crumb.


to which John replied:

> Not in my experience. I mix at relatively high speed for longer than =

most
> bakers and stretch and fold a lot, making a dough (or glop<g>) that is
> extremely elastic and extensible, giving the dough the ability to form =

large
> pockets that are stable enough to bake due to the strength of the cell =

walls.

That is my thought, too. I am guessing that good dough is needed for =
good
holes just like good soapsuds are needed for good soap bubbles. Of =
course
one cannot go too far with that analogy because of the profound =
difference
in the molecular structure between starch-gluten membranes and soapsuds.
For dough I'd guess that well-arranged an optimally elongated gluten=20
tendrils would be a considerable advantage.

However, one could alternatively propose, because of the well-known
molecular forces at surfaces that, under appropriate conditions, the=20
macromolecules of dough would be arranged by those, from a helter-
skelter state to start, to ordered, elastic/extensible, structures.

> I must stress that the preceding observations apply to high, 80%+ =

doughs. =20

I am still having trouble with the concept of bakers' hydration because =
of
the moisture already in dough when milled, and the moisture which is
absorbed upon storage. So the 75% hydration I have claimed for my
big-hole experiments could be considerably higher, depending on how
those sources are considered.

> > Wet doughs have weaker walls of individual air cells so they may =

fuse=20
> > to form larger cells (says Roland, characteristically =

straight-faced).

> Not sure that "weaker" is how I would describe the elastic dough I=20
> produce<g> (says John, grinningly).


Well, if water molecules are important in the matrix, the matrix may be
worse or better depending on their relative abundance. We would really
need to hear from Uncle Linus about that.

Otherwise I suspect that empirical science is the best hope, =
notwithstanding
that the isolation of parameters and variables in extemporaneous kitchen =

studies is problematic (says Dick, giggling quietly up his sleeve).

---
DickA


  #12 (permalink)   Report Post  
Dick Adams
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Wcsjohn" > wrote in message =
...

> I mix at relatively high speed for longer than most bakers and stretch =


> and fold a lot, making a dough (or glop<g>) that is extremely elastic=20
> and extensible ...


John, the experiment at =
http://www.prettycolors.com/bread%5Fculture/Francense/
seems to suggest that the stretching and folding is more important than
the long, high-speed mixing. Compare with my recent other picture shows
http://www.prettycolors.com/bread%5F...ead/index.html
http://www.prettycolors.com/bread%5F...ad2/index.html
where the dough was very thoroughly kneaded in a bread machine.

What do you think?

---
DickA
  #14 (permalink)   Report Post  
Dick Adams
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Wcsjohn" > wrote in message =
...

Roland had said:

> > I think intensive kneading makes a uniform crumb.


to which John replied:

> Not in my experience. I mix at relatively high speed for longer than =

most
> bakers and stretch and fold a lot, making a dough (or glop<g>) that is
> extremely elastic and extensible, giving the dough the ability to form =

large
> pockets that are stable enough to bake due to the strength of the cell =

walls.

That is my thought, too. I am guessing that good dough is needed for =
good
holes just like good soapsuds are needed for good soap bubbles. Of =
course
one cannot go too far with that analogy because of the profound =
difference
in the molecular structure between starch-gluten membranes and soapsuds.
For dough I'd guess that well-arranged an optimally elongated gluten=20
tendrils would be a considerable advantage.

However, one could alternatively propose, because of the well-known
molecular forces at surfaces that, under appropriate conditions, the=20
macromolecules of dough would be arranged by those, from a helter-
skelter state to start, to ordered, elastic/extensible, structures.

> I must stress that the preceding observations apply to high, 80%+ =

doughs. =20

I am still having trouble with the concept of bakers' hydration because =
of
the moisture already in dough when milled, and the moisture which is
absorbed upon storage. So the 75% hydration I have claimed for my
big-hole experiments could be considerably higher, depending on how
those sources are considered.

> > Wet doughs have weaker walls of individual air cells so they may =

fuse=20
> > to form larger cells (says Roland, characteristically =

straight-faced).

> Not sure that "weaker" is how I would describe the elastic dough I=20
> produce<g> (says John, grinningly).


Well, if water molecules are important in the matrix, the matrix may be
worse or better depending on their relative abundance. We would really
need to hear from Uncle Linus about that.

Otherwise I suspect that empirical science is the best hope, =
notwithstanding
that the isolation of parameters and variables in extemporaneous kitchen =

studies is problematic (says Dick, giggling quietly up his sleeve).

---
DickA
  #16 (permalink)   Report Post  
Dick Adams
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Wcsjohn" > wrote in message =
...

> I mix at relatively high speed for longer than most bakers and stretch =


> and fold a lot, making a dough (or glop<g>) that is extremely elastic=20
> and extensible ...


John, the experiment at =
http://www.prettycolors.com/bread%5Fculture/Francense/
seems to suggest that the stretching and folding is more important than
the long, high-speed mixing. Compare with my recent other picture shows
http://www.prettycolors.com/bread%5F...ead/index.html
http://www.prettycolors.com/bread%5F...ad2/index.html
where the dough was very thoroughly kneaded in a bread machine.

What do you think?

---
DickA
  #17 (permalink)   Report Post  
Dee Randall
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Joe Doe" > wrote in message
...
> In article
> >,
> "Dick Adams" > wrote:
>
>
> >
> > > Roland

> >
> > If your name is Roland, why do you identify as Joe Doe? The was a

Roland
> > at r.f.s. once in past years -- he was very knowledgeable.

>
>
> Same Roland.
>
> Just got tired of spam, hence the anonymity.
>
> Almost gave up baking completely since moving to Texas (too hot to heat
> up the house in summer). I let all my cultures die. Got a culture from
> someone locally recently. Interestingly, this culture raises bread very
> quickly but is very mild (it almost doubles every 1-2 hours). It is
> almost akin to the SDI Russian starter.
>
> Just started baking again and bake irregularly. Will post a picture
> when I bake next.
>
> Have lurked here occasionally every few years.
>
> The level of knowledge and commitment to baking has grown tremendously
> since the time I used to participate here long back.
>
>
> Will probably, go back to lurk mode. Just jumped in here, because I
> notice this question comes up often.
>
> I think intensive kneading makes a uniform crumb. Wet doughs have
> weaker walls of individual air cells so they may fuse to form larger
> cells.
>
> When you introduce the air pockets by shaping (i.e. make a rectangle and
> then roll it up and repeat the cycle or do cycles of stretch and fold)
> you are simply using a different trick to introduce air cells into the
> dough.
>
> Roland



do cycles of stretch and fold

"Stretch and fold" seems a common direction, and I would assume it means
that, even if you practically pour your dough out, stretch it when you have
put it onto a flat surface (marble) to an even larger size and then fold it
into half 'sort of' gently, and then decide how many times you wish to
stretch and fold it?

Thanks, Dee


  #18 (permalink)   Report Post  
Wcsjohn
 
Posts: n/a
Default

>
>do cycles of stretch and fold
>
>"Stretch and fold" seems a common direction, and I would assume it means
>that, even if you practically pour your dough out, stretch it when you have
>put it onto a flat surface (marble) to an even larger size and then fold it
>into half 'sort of' gently, and then decide how many times you wish to
>stretch and fold it?
>
>Thanks, Dee
>
>


Turn, or pour the dough onto a floured surface and, using your bench knife to
slide underneath, roll the dough in the flour until it no longer sticks. Grasp
both ends of the dough and stretch it to an oblong with sides in the ratio 3:1.
Fold the dough in 3, like a letter, which will give you a rough square, turn
through 90 degrees and leave to rest for 10 minutes or so, it varies with the
hydration, temperature, flour, and, for all I know, the phases of the Moon<g> .
Repeat as many times as necesssary times, leaving the dough to rise until
doubled, after the last stretch and fold, before dividing into loaves. The
dough will be very soft but astonishingly springy and quite easy to handle.

HTH

John




  #19 (permalink)   Report Post  
Wcsjohn
 
Posts: n/a
Default

>
>do cycles of stretch and fold
>
>"Stretch and fold" seems a common direction, and I would assume it means
>that, even if you practically pour your dough out, stretch it when you have
>put it onto a flat surface (marble) to an even larger size and then fold it
>into half 'sort of' gently, and then decide how many times you wish to
>stretch and fold it?
>
>Thanks, Dee
>
>


Turn, or pour the dough onto a floured surface and, using your bench knife to
slide underneath, roll the dough in the flour until it no longer sticks. Grasp
both ends of the dough and stretch it to an oblong with sides in the ratio 3:1.
Fold the dough in 3, like a letter, which will give you a rough square, turn
through 90 degrees and leave to rest for 10 minutes or so, it varies with the
hydration, temperature, flour, and, for all I know, the phases of the Moon<g> .
Repeat as many times as necesssary times, leaving the dough to rise until
doubled, after the last stretch and fold, before dividing into loaves. The
dough will be very soft but astonishingly springy and quite easy to handle.

HTH

John




  #20 (permalink)   Report Post  
Wcsjohn
 
Posts: n/a
Default

>
>do cycles of stretch and fold
>
>"Stretch and fold" seems a common direction, and I would assume it means
>that, even if you practically pour your dough out, stretch it when you have
>put it onto a flat surface (marble) to an even larger size and then fold it
>into half 'sort of' gently, and then decide how many times you wish to
>stretch and fold it?
>
>Thanks, Dee
>
>


Turn, or pour the dough onto a floured surface and, using your bench knife to
slide underneath, roll the dough in the flour until it no longer sticks. Grasp
both ends of the dough and stretch it to an oblong with sides in the ratio 3:1.
Fold the dough in 3, like a letter, which will give you a rough square, turn
through 90 degrees and leave to rest for 10 minutes or so, it varies with the
hydration, temperature, flour, and, for all I know, the phases of the Moon<g> .
Repeat as many times as necesssary times, leaving the dough to rise until
doubled, after the last stretch and fold, before dividing into loaves. The
dough will be very soft but astonishingly springy and quite easy to handle.

HTH

John






  #21 (permalink)   Report Post  
Wcsjohn
 
Posts: n/a
Default

<snip>
>
>I think intensive kneading makes a uniform crumb.


Not in my experience. I mix at relatively high speed for longer than most
bakers and stretch and fold a lot, making a dough (or glop<g>) that is
extremely elastic and extensible, giving the dough the abilty to form large
pockets that are stable enough to bake due to the strength of the cell walls.

I must stress that the preceding observations apply to high, 80%+ doughs.

>Wet doughs haveweaker walls of individual air cells so they may fuse to form

larger
>cells.


Not sure that "weaker" is how I would describe the elastic dough I produce<g>

>

<snip>

John
  #22 (permalink)   Report Post  
Dee Randall
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Joe Doe" > wrote in message
...
> In article
> >,
> "Dick Adams" > wrote:
>
>
> >
> > > Roland

> >
> > If your name is Roland, why do you identify as Joe Doe? The was a

Roland
> > at r.f.s. once in past years -- he was very knowledgeable.

>
>
> Same Roland.
>
> Just got tired of spam, hence the anonymity.
>
> Almost gave up baking completely since moving to Texas (too hot to heat
> up the house in summer). I let all my cultures die. Got a culture from
> someone locally recently. Interestingly, this culture raises bread very
> quickly but is very mild (it almost doubles every 1-2 hours). It is
> almost akin to the SDI Russian starter.
>
> Just started baking again and bake irregularly. Will post a picture
> when I bake next.
>
> Have lurked here occasionally every few years.
>
> The level of knowledge and commitment to baking has grown tremendously
> since the time I used to participate here long back.
>
>
> Will probably, go back to lurk mode. Just jumped in here, because I
> notice this question comes up often.
>
> I think intensive kneading makes a uniform crumb. Wet doughs have
> weaker walls of individual air cells so they may fuse to form larger
> cells.
>
> When you introduce the air pockets by shaping (i.e. make a rectangle and
> then roll it up and repeat the cycle or do cycles of stretch and fold)
> you are simply using a different trick to introduce air cells into the
> dough.
>
> Roland



do cycles of stretch and fold

"Stretch and fold" seems a common direction, and I would assume it means
that, even if you practically pour your dough out, stretch it when you have
put it onto a flat surface (marble) to an even larger size and then fold it
into half 'sort of' gently, and then decide how many times you wish to
stretch and fold it?

Thanks, Dee


  #23 (permalink)   Report Post  
Wcsjohn
 
Posts: n/a
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<snip>
>
>I think intensive kneading makes a uniform crumb.


Not in my experience. I mix at relatively high speed for longer than most
bakers and stretch and fold a lot, making a dough (or glop<g>) that is
extremely elastic and extensible, giving the dough the abilty to form large
pockets that are stable enough to bake due to the strength of the cell walls.

I must stress that the preceding observations apply to high, 80%+ doughs.

>Wet doughs haveweaker walls of individual air cells so they may fuse to form

larger
>cells.


Not sure that "weaker" is how I would describe the elastic dough I produce<g>

>

<snip>

John
  #24 (permalink)   Report Post  
Joe Doe
 
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In article
>,
"Dick Adams" > wrote:


>
> > Roland

>
> If your name is Roland, why do you identify as Joe Doe? The was a Roland
> at r.f.s. once in past years -- he was very knowledgeable.



Same Roland.

Just got tired of spam, hence the anonymity.

Almost gave up baking completely since moving to Texas (too hot to heat
up the house in summer). I let all my cultures die. Got a culture from
someone locally recently. Interestingly, this culture raises bread very
quickly but is very mild (it almost doubles every 1-2 hours). It is
almost akin to the SDI Russian starter.

Just started baking again and bake irregularly. Will post a picture
when I bake next.

Have lurked here occasionally every few years.

The level of knowledge and commitment to baking has grown tremendously
since the time I used to participate here long back.


Will probably, go back to lurk mode. Just jumped in here, because I
notice this question comes up often.

I think intensive kneading makes a uniform crumb. Wet doughs have
weaker walls of individual air cells so they may fuse to form larger
cells.

When you introduce the air pockets by shaping (i.e. make a rectangle and
then roll it up and repeat the cycle or do cycles of stretch and fold)
you are simply using a different trick to introduce air cells into the
dough.

Roland
  #25 (permalink)   Report Post  
Dick Adams
 
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"Joe Doe" > wrote in message =
...

> What I do is stretch and then roll up the dough (same effect as =

above). =20
> The dough is then flattened out (gently so as to not squeeze out too=20
> many air pockets) and rolled up at 90 degrees to the previous cycle. =

A=20
> few cycles of this and you will get the effect you desire. So the =

secret=20
> for large holes is during the shaping.


Can you post some photos showing the holes in your bread?

> Roland


If your name is Roland, why do you identify as Joe Doe? The was a =
Roland
at r.f.s. once in past years -- he was very knowledgeable.

--=20
Dick Adams
(Sourdough minimalist)
___________________
Sourdough FAQ guide at=20
http://www.nyx.net/~dgreenw/sourdoughfaqs.html



  #26 (permalink)   Report Post  
Wcsjohn
 
Posts: n/a
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>
>See also the thread named: Will - Hydration alone producing=20
>gluten structure.
>
>Which is the best way to obtained coarsely-texture bread (big holes)?
>Well, here again I make one more small effort to continue my search.
>
>In this case: intense kneading, 75% hydration, bread flour (~14% =
>protein),
>two rises proceeded by stretching and folding. This is straight dough,
>not sourdough.
>
>The proposition is that stretching and folding later on in the rise may
>coalesce some bubbles, for a more open eventual texture.
>
>Please see results at:
>http://www.prettycolors.com/bread%5F...ad2/index.html
>
>This may be compared with a previous experiment at:
>http://www.prettycolors.com/bread%5F...ead/index.html
>That involved only one stretch and fold cycle.
>
>Some people are telling that the way to get the big holes is to
>mix only, not knead, and let the mixed dough sit in the fridge for
>a long time so it will have a chance to knead itself. It would be
>very helpful to me if those people would show their photographs
>since, at the rate I am going, I may not have time to try everything
>myself. I think some are recommending low-gluten flour.
>
>Yes, it is not sourdough. But sourdough makes the experiments
>longer and more critical. I would like to make loaves like Iggy's
>Francense (which is sourdough) but do not feel I am getting even
>close. Please use the following link to see what I mean:
>http://www.prettycolors.com/bread%5Fculture/iggys.htm
>
>So help me if you can. Well, probably I am beyond help -- I am
>crazily obsessed with these big elusive holes. Well, my wife and
>family just loves my regular bread so maybe I should stick to that.
>
>--=20
>Dick Adams
><firstname> dot <lastname> at bigfoot dot com
>___________________
>Sourdough FAQ guide at=20
>http://www.nyx.net/~dgreenw/sourdoughfaqs.html
>
>
>
>
>
>
>


Dick,

I'll answer more fully this evening (GMT) but here are 2 pix that may be of
interest, the first is straight yeast, the second the same bread but from
sourdough. I think I may have posted the second previously, if so, my
apologies.

http://www.zippyimages.com/files/109452/DSC00023.jpg
http://www.zippyimages.com/files/109454/DSC00077.jpg

I do have more difficulty making large holed bread from sourdough, but one
thing to say immediately is that I use at least 80% hydration and 4-6 stretch
and fold cycles, depending on how the dough reacts.

The bread in both pictures was made at 110% hydration. I think, next time I
will cut back to 105% on the SD version to compensate for the extra dough
relaxation that SD seems to exhhibit.

And, yes, once the "Big Hole Bug" strikes, rationality goes walkabout and "Size
is everything"<g>.

John





  #27 (permalink)   Report Post  
Joe Doe
 
Posts: n/a
Default

In article
>,
"Dick Adams" > wrote:

> See also the thread named: Will - Hydration alone producing
> gluten structure.
>
> Which is the best way to obtained coarsely-texture bread (big holes)?
> Well, here again I make one more small effort to continue my search.
>
> In this case: intense kneading, 75% hydration, bread flour (~14% protein),
> two rises proceeded by stretching and folding. This is straight dough,
> not sourdough.
>
> The proposition is that stretching and folding later on in the rise may
> coalesce some bubbles, for a more open eventual texture.



The real rational for large irregular holes and shaping is the following:

When you stretch and fold you are creating layers of dough with large
air pockets. The number and distribution of the pockets will depend on
how hard you handle the dough - If you merely fold, one large air sheet
can be imagined. If you then stretch and fold again, the sheet will
have smaller pockets because smaller pockets will form as you handle the
dough (you are sticking together opposing sheets of dough by handling).
So with 2 or 3 cycles of stretching and folding you will have created a
larger network of air pockets irregularly distributed. If you handle
the dough very hard and squeeze all the air by squeezing the opposing
dough halves together in a stretch and fold cycle, you will have few
irregular holes. On the other hand if you are too gentle the final loaf
will have obvious sheets of air separating sheets of dough.

What I do is stretch and then roll up the dough (same effect as above).
The dough is then flattened out (gently so as to not squeeze out too
many air pockets) and rolled up at 90 degrees to the previous cycle. A
few cycles of this and you will get the effect you desire.

So the secret for large holes is during the shaping.

Roland
  #28 (permalink)   Report Post  
Wcsjohn
 
Posts: n/a
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>
>See also the thread named: Will - Hydration alone producing=20
>gluten structure.
>
>Which is the best way to obtained coarsely-texture bread (big holes)?
>Well, here again I make one more small effort to continue my search.


The only way I, personally, can reliably obtain large holes is by using
hydrations ranging from 80 to 110% with either intensive mechanical dough
development, stretch and fold, a Gosselin fridge rest or any combination of the
3.


>
>In this case: intense kneading, 75% hydration, bread flour (~14% =
>protein),
>two rises proceeded by stretching and folding. This is straight dough,
>not sourdough.
>
>The proposition is that stretching and folding later on in the rise may
>coalesce some bubbles, for a more open eventual texture.
>
>Please see results at:
>http://www.prettycolors.com/bread%5F...ad2/index.html
>
>This may be compared with a previous experiment at:
>http://www.prettycolors.com/bread%5F...ead/index.html
>That involved only one stretch and fold cycle.
>
>Some people are telling that the way to get the big holes is to
>mix only, not knead, and let the mixed dough sit in the fridge for
>a long time so it will have a chance to knead itself.


I have only found long fridge rest helpful to the production of holes when it
is a Gosselin rest. A long rest after fementation has not enhanced the
structure. (flavour is a different matter)

>It would be
>very helpful to me if those people would show their photographs
>since, at the rate I am going, I may not have time to try everything
>myself. I think some are recommending low-gluten flour.
>
>Yes, it is not sourdough. But sourdough makes the experiments
>longer and more critical.


Agreed. Unless you're a master of sourdough, which I most definitely am not,
the whole process of developing a new bread is most easily done with commercial
yeast and then converting to sourdough. Or so I find, at least.

> I would like to make loaves like Iggy's
>Francense (which is sourdough) but do not feel I am getting even
>close. Please use the following link to see what I mean:
>http://www.prettycolors.com/bread%5Fculture/iggys.htm


That is very fine bread, do you know anything about the techniques used?

>
>So help me if you can. Well, probably I am beyond help -- I am
>crazily obsessed with these big elusive holes.

The spider of Rustic Crumb winds another hapless victim in her coils<g>

>Well, my wife and
>family just loves my regular bread so maybe I should stick to that.
>


I don't always bake big holed bread, There's room for all kinds of bread in my
house just as long as it's good, of it's type.

>--=20
>Dick Adams
><firstname> dot <lastname> at bigfoot dot com
>___________________
>Sourdough FAQ guide at=20
>http://www.nyx.net/~dgreenw/sourdoughfaqs.html


  #29 (permalink)   Report Post  
Brian Mailman
 
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Dick Adams wrote:

> Please see results at:
> http://www.prettycolors.com/bread%5F...ad2/index.html


If you're speaking of the Middle-Eastern herb, it's more properly
transliterated as za'atar.

B/
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