April 8, 2008 - 3:44am
Transfering dough from a couche to a peel
Hi!
Can I have some suggestions for transfering risen dough from a couche to a peel?
I watched the video on MCS's website - the Back Home Bakery, I think it's called. I'll watch it again and again.
I lay my loaves between folds of the couche. So far, I've been bringing my peel toward the first loaf and trying to roll it onto the peel in the direction away from the other loaves (I hope you can picture what I'm describing!). The effect is causing the adjacent loaf to lift off and plonk down again. Does not look graceful (as in MCS's video)!
I'm thinking of trying to go the other way and roll each loaf in the direction of the other loaves.
Any other ideas?
Thankyou in advance.
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I think your other idea is the easier way. Although it seems counter intuitive, if you put the peel inbetween the loaves, then you can lift up on the free side of the couche rather than the fold inbetween the loaves. If you pull the canvas gently first, so the fold between the loaves becomes 'flat' first, then you've got a flat place and more space to put your peel. Don't know if it works for you, but for me it's easier to load up the canvas with the long side of the loaves going 'left to right', but put them on the peel with the long sides facing 'front to back'.
By the way, I like your usage of the word 'plonk'.
-Mark
http://thebackhomebakery.com
My first attempt at three loaves on one couche ended up with one of mine "Plonk"ing off the board, off the side of the counter and plonked on the floor.
Says it all. Reminds me of the first time my husband used a peel to put a loaf on the baking stone. He missed. It landed on the oven shelf, where it slowly dripped down between the wires, and made itself into stalagmites. Lovely.
I think this is the only loaf I have ever thrown out untasted.
Mary
I put the couche on a baking sheet, cover it with the peel, then flip the whole thing over. Works every time.
I have a way that really is totally unanxiety provoking that I learned from Daniel Leader's newest book. I used to torment over getting the loaves from the couche to the peel until I tried his suggestion: Take a sheet of parchment paper and fold it like you would the couche, place it on a sheet pan, and set the loaves on it right side up. I usually sprinkle the parchment paper with some cornmeal, but I don’t know if that is really required. When you are ready to bake, you cut the parchment paper between the loaves and trim it, and then it is easy to transfer each separately still on the parchment paper to the stone in the oven. Then after about 20 minutes or so, when you might like to turn the loaves around in the oven, you can easily remove the paper from the oven, though this is not absolutely necessary- You can leave it on the paper without any harm.
Sometimes loaves are proofed seam-side-down in the couche, which requires a "double flip" to have them wind up still seam-side-down on the peel. A flipping board is good for this, as seen in this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO_AarQdaqE
The video also demonstrates what Mark said, that rolling the loaf towards the other loaves is actually the easiest way to get it out of the couche.
Susanfnp
http://www.wildyeastblog.com
Thank you all for your comments and advice!
I have a rare weekend off coming up and I'll be baking! I'll take pictures and update you on my progress!
SYLVIAH Hi, I love using my Super Peel.com...I ordered it online..I use it a lot moving my pizza doughs. It really works!