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Sourdough bread: Two more experiments in one bake

dmsnyder's picture
dmsnyder

Sourdough bread: Two more experiments in one bake

 

Today's sourdough bread is a continuation of the experiment from last week with my modified steaming method of pouring hot water over pre-heated lava rocks in a cast iron skillet both before and after loading the loaves in the oven.

I had two new goals: In addition to trying to replicate last weeks good results, I wanted to increase the sourness of the bread and I wanted to see if I could get a “crackly” crust.

In the interest of increased sourness, I elaborated a firmer levain than what I customarily use. I fed the levain two days before mixing the dough, fermented it overnight and then refrigerated it for 18 hours. I also doubled the percentage of the levain in the formula.

I have read that lower protein flour will produce a more crackly crust, while higher protein flour produces a more crunchy, harder crust. Therefore, I used AP flour (11.7% protein) rather than the high-gluten flour (14.2% protein) I had used last week.

Since I was using a lower protein flour, I reduced the hydration of the dough to 70%. Note that the effective hydration is even a bit lower, since the levain was less hydrated also. I used the same procedures as last week except I baked the loaves slightly longer, since they were slightly larger (because of the additional levain).

 

Ingredients

Amount

Baker's percentage

Giusto's Baker's Choice flour

450 gms

90

Whole rye flour

50 gms

10

Water

350 gms

70

Salt

10 gms

2

Levain (50% hydration)

200 gms

40

Total

972 gms

212

Procedures

  1. Mix the flours and water to a shaggy mass. Cover and let rest for 20-60 minutes.

  2. Add the salt and levain and mix to moderate gluten development.

  3. Transfer to the bench and do a couple of folds, then transfer the dough to an oiled bowl and cover it. Note the volume the dough will achieve when doubled.

  4. After 45 minutes, do another stretch and fold, then allow the dough to double in volume.

  5. Divide the dough into two equal pieces and pre-shape into rounds. Let the pieces rest, covered, for 10-20 minutes.

  6. Shape each piece into a boule and transfer to well-floured bannetons, seam side up. Place each in a food-grade plastic bag, seal the openings.

  7. Allow to proof for 30-60 minutes (less in a warmer environment), then refrigerate for 8-14 hours.

  8. Remove the loaves from the refrigerator 2-4 hours before baking (depending on how risen they are and how warm the room is). Allow to warm up and expand to 1.5 times the loaves original volume.

  9. 45-60 minutes before baking, pre-heat the oven to 500F with a baking stone on the middle shelf and a cast iron skillet filled with lava rocks on the bottom shelf. (I suggest moving the stone ove to within one inch of the oven wall on your non-dominant side. Place the skillet next to the wall on your dominant side.)

  10. When the loaves are ready to bake, pour 1/3 cup of boiling water over the lava rocks and close the oven door fast. (Strongly suggest holding the kettle wearing an oven mitt!)

  11. Transfer the loaves to a peel or to parchment paper on a peel, and load them onto your baking stone.

  12. Immediately pour ½ cup of boiling water over the lava stones and quickly close the oven door.

  13. Turn the oven temperature down to 460F and set a timer for 12 minutes.

  14. After 12 minutes, remove the skillet. Reset the timer for 20 minutes.

  15. The loaves are done when nicely colored, thumping their bottoms gives a “hollow” sound and their internal temperature is at least 205F.

  16. When the loaves are done, turn off the oven but leave the loaves in the oven with the door ajar for 7-10 minutes to dry the crust.

  17. Cool thoroughly (2 hours) before slicing and serving.

Comments:

I autolysed the flours and water for about 30 minutes. I then added the levain and salt and mixed with the paddle in my KitchenAid for about 2 minutes. As I was switching to the dough hook, I was surprised how much gluten development had already occurred. I mixed with dough with the dough hook at Speed 2 for just a couple minutes more and already had moderate gluten development.

To what could I attribute this? The only possibilities were the increased percentage of levain and the different flour. My hypothesis is it was mostly the flour. We hear that higher-gluten flours require more mixing to develop the gluten. I was using a lower gluten flour than usual for this type of bread.

The dough consistency (Thank you, MC for this useful distinction from the SFBI!) was almost identical to that of last week's dough, so my guesstimated hydration adjustment seemed spot on.

These boules were proofed for a bit over an hour before they were refrigerated. The next morning, they sat at room temperature for about 2 hours before baking. When I transferred them to the peel, they spread some. This could be because of the lower gluten flour effects, slight over-proofing or a combination of factors.

The loaves had reasonable but not great oven spring, and they had less bloom than the previous bake. This suggests they were probably over-proofed a bit. I baked them for 22 minutes at 460F. They then sat in the turned off oven for 7 minutes to dry the crust.

The crust was not as shiny as the last ones, but by no means “dull.” They were singing already when I took them out of the oven. It seemed to me, that the “tune” was higher pitched than the song my boules generally sing. Could this be because of the lower gluten flour? Thinner crust? And … Woohoo! Cracks began to appear in the crust as the bread cooled!

The crust has a crunchy bite. As can be seen from the crumb shot, below, it is relatively thick. I think that, to get a thin  crackly crust like a classic baguette, one must have a shorter bake at a lower temperature.

The crumb appearance was typical for my sourdoughs of this type. However, it was chewier than I expected. Very nice. The flavor was indeed more sour than last week's sourdough, as expected. I would still categorize it as mild to moderate sourness. It is not as sour as the "San Francisco Sourdough" in Reinhart's "Crust and Crumb," which uses an extremely firm levain in even higher proportions.

 

Conclusions:

  • Increased sour flavor with firmer levain and increased levain percentage: As expected, this loaf was more sour but not dramatically so. To get a super-sour flavor, the techniques used must be pushed further.
  • Crackled crust with lower protein flour: Today's bake seems to support this hypothesis. Is this effect desirable? That's a matter of taste, but, for me, it's at least nice to know how to get the effect when I want it.
  • The benefits of the double steaming technique: Today's results were certainly satisfactory, but they also demonstrate that steaming is just one among several variables that contribute to oven spring and bloom.

 

David

Submitted to Yeast Spotting

 

 

Comments

wally's picture
wally

David- That's a beautiful looking crust you achieved.  I can see the crackling that our friend Shiao-Ping achieves in so many of her breads, and also the dimpled surface that indicates the period of refrigeration.

I baked two fougasse this weekend using lava rocks, and got a much nicer looking crust than previously.  The second time I soaked the rocks in water for nearly an hour before draining them and then loading them into my skillet as I began pre-heating the oven.  Couldn't detect any difference from just pouring hot water over the dry lava rocks.

Tomorrow I'll try my poolish baguette and see if I there's a noticeable difference in my gringes.

But that is a very enticing crust I must say!

Larry

dmsnyder's picture
dmsnyder

Both for the kind words and your experience with steaming.

From today's experience, I would say that the double steaming is relatively convenient and more effective than what I was using previously. However, steaming is only one of the determinants of oven spring and bloom.

The most significant pitfalls for me in getting baguettes' cuts to open the way I'd like have been getting the proofing exactly right (neither under- or over-) and getting the quantity of steam just right.

Bonne chance! I look forward to seeing and hearing about how your baguettes turn out.

David

SylviaH's picture
SylviaH

Just Gorgeous, David!  Your experiment was a great success!  Nice write-up too! I would love to have a bite of this loaf! 

Sylvia

dmsnyder's picture
dmsnyder

I still learn something every time I bake, but these intentional experiments are a way of testing whether what I think I've learned is really true. And I enjoy eating my data. 

David

ehanner's picture
ehanner

I can't believe you get such wonderful color. I think you said baking time was 22 minutes but with the initial steam time it's really 32 if I understand your text. Still, great color.

Thanks for the paper data David, go ahead and shred the balance of the data with a knife so it doesn't fall into the wrong hands.

Eric

dmsnyder's picture
dmsnyder

The bake time was 22 minutes (12 with steam + 20 without steam). Then, 7 minutes more with the oven turned off and the door ajar.

I hope that clarifies the timing.

As you know, I eat my data. Hmmm ... Leftovers do get made into breadcrumbs or croutons sometimes. I guess that's like shredding. For breadcrumbs, I find a Cuisinart works better than a knife. 

Now you've got me thinking. I wonder how the Cuisinart would work on old papers. I'll tell my wife you suggested it. ;-)

David

pattycakes's picture
pattycakes

Nice crackle, too.

Hey, David, as I understand it, you get a more sour flavor from a starter that has matured at a lower temperature. Have you tried that? I haven't, because at our house, we like it mild...

Patricia

dmsnyder's picture
dmsnyder

The levain was refrigerated overnight.

David

hansjoakim's picture
hansjoakim

Hi David,

And congrats on a mighty wonderful bread!

I think what Patricia was referring to above, was whether you've tried to let the sourdough ripen at lower temperatures? It seems that acetic components of the sourdough thrive best in firm sourdoughs and at lower temperatures compared to the lactic. I guess if it's refrigerated, then much activity will cease right away, and the acetic part won't dominate as much as if e.g. it had ripened at cold room temp (65F - 70F).

Another thing to think about re: retarding in bulk vs. retarding the shaped loaves, is that it takes longer to chill the dough in bulk compared to the shaped loaves. So one could infer that more activity takes place during retardation when it's done in the bulk stage compared to during final proof. One would think that a loaf that's been retarded in bulk has a greater potential for increased sour than one that's retarded during final proof. Just something one could consider, but since we're not really experiencing much difference one way or the other, convenience should decide.

dmsnyder's picture
dmsnyder

Hi, hansjoakim.

Patricia's message asked about retarding the starter, not retarding the dough or the loaves.

Be that as it may, you raise an interesting question regarding the effects on LB acid production. In the Summer, there is no environment available to me in the 65-70F range. I've thought about getting a small refrigerator just for retarding dough at 50F, which is about what the pros use, I believe. Hmmm --- I do have some small ice chests I could use for the levain or the dough. Maybe a future experiment.

David

susanfnp's picture
susanfnp

To me a crackly crust is definitely desirable and the mark of a superior loaf. Nicely done!

dmsnyder's picture
dmsnyder

David