The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

What causes the crust to crackle after baking?

Ria's picture
Ria

What causes the crust to crackle after baking?

I just baked two sourdough boules, and they began to make lovely crackling noises after I took them out of the oven. My son wants to know what causes this, and I figured someone here would know. Thanks!

qahtan's picture
qahtan

Tell your son that the loaves are "singing" because they are so gorgeous. and they are happy they came out right..... ;-))) qahtan

KansasGirlStuckInMaryland's picture
KansasGirlStuck...

I was watching an old episode of Good Eats with Alton Brown the other day.  He was cooking/baking in his cast iron dutchoven using coals.  He made a loaf of bread in it.  When the loaf was removed from the oven he got so excited about the crackling that he had the microphone brought in close so we could all hear the crackling.

I love that sound when I make my french bread.

Davidkatz's picture
Davidkatz

Had to run out today while my Tartine loaf was baking in my dutch oven.

The extra time in the oven made that loaf sing for quite some time!

FiMu's picture
FiMu

So this happened last night...