The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Final Bakes of 2009 (Baguettes and Sourdough Miches)

breadbakingbassplayer's picture
breadbakingbass...

Final Bakes of 2009 (Baguettes and Sourdough Miches)

Hi All,

I just wanted to share with you my final bakes of 2009.  I was unable to post them earlier as I went to Japan for Christmas and New Years...  This was a year of much improvement for me, perfecting my version of baguettes, getting the hang of sourdough, refrigerated bulk fermentation, baking very large loaves, making pizza dough, and kneading large quantities (7-8kg) of dough by hand successfully.

Wishing all of you much baking success in 2010.  Now I'm off to do my first bake of the 2010.

Cheers,

Tim

Comments

Floydm's picture
Floydm

Man, that crumb is phenomenal.  Nice job.

breadbakingbassplayer's picture
breadbakingbass...

Thanks Floyd!  The 1st set of baguette pics were from one week, and the 2nd set were from a few days after...  The 1st try was very good, but the 2nd was phenomenal in every aspect...

LindyD's picture
LindyD

Lovely crumb.  Need some infused olive oil with those goodies!

ananda's picture
ananda

"Cracking Good Crust" too!!

Just needs to be eaten

Ananda

ehanner's picture
ehanner

Great looking breads Breadbakingbass!

That crumb looks amazing and just overall everything is perfect. I look forward to seeing what 2010 brings for all of us.

Eric

weavershouse's picture
weavershouse

All of the baked goods looked great and I'm sure tasted great too. What a nice crumb. Great job.

weavershouse

thebreadfairy's picture
thebreadfairy

Could you share the formula you are using for the baguettes? I love the crumb you produced.

frenchcreek baker's picture
frenchcreek baker

I am new to the site but had to drop a note to say your bread looks AMAZING! Looking forward to seeing your 2010 photos. 

Cheers,

Anne

p.s. If only they could invent bread photos we could taste with our eyes. 

breadbakingbassplayer's picture
breadbakingbass...

 Tim's Best Baguettes of 2009

(Loosely based on Eric Kayser's Baguette Monge)

 

Makes approx 1100g of dough (3 baguettes)

 

Ingredients:

362g AP Flour (60%) - Hecker's Unbleached

212g Bread Flour (35%) - Gold Medal

18g WW Flour (3%) - Gold Medal

12g Rye Flour (2%) - Arrowhead Mills Organic

470g Cool Water (78%) - NYC Tap Water

12g Firm Sourdough Starter (2%) - About 60% hydration.

12g Kosher Salt (2%)

1.2g Active Dry Yeast (.02% /approx 1/4tsp)

 

Notes: My firm sourdough starter was started with Arrowhead Mills Organic Rye Flour, and King Arthur Organic Bread Flour.  I keep it in the fridge and feed it about once a week with 50g of bread or all-purpose flour and 30g of water.  It doubles in about 4-6 hours out of the fridge after refreshment...

 

Directions:

Day 1

8pm - Measure out all dry and wet ingredients.  In a large metal bowl add all dry ingredients and mix well with wooden spoon.  Create well in center and place the firm sourdough starter in center and add some water to dissolve sourdough starter.  Continue adding water and start mixing in the flour from the sides to create a batter.  When all the water is added, mix in all the remaining flour to create a scrappy dough.  Cover and let autolyse for 30 minutes.

 

8:45pm - Prepare a bowl with cool water for wetting hands for kneading.  Using damp hands work out any lumps before kneading.  Knead dough using French fold method in bowl  using wet hands.  Knead dough 4 times turning the bowl 90 degrees  following each knead.  Cover and let dough rest for 15 minutes.  Repeat 4 more times.

 

10:00pm - Place dough in lightly oiled plastic container and refrigerate for 16-24 hours at 40F.

 

Day 2

7:00pm - Take dough out of refrigerator.  Dough should have doubled and have lots of air pockets.  Divide into 3 pieces of approx 350g, preshape into boule and let bench rest for 15 minutes covered.

 

7:30pm - Shape into batard, and let rest covered for 15 minutes.

 

7:45pm - Place baking stone into oven in usual shelf position.  My stone is 14 x 16, and it is placed with the length of the stone going front to back...  Place steam pan in bottom of oven.  Preheat oven to 550F with convection.  Do final baguette shaping and stretch to 16", place on very lightly floured couche, cover and proof for 30-45 minutes or until they pass the poke test.  Also prepare a spray bottle with fresh water, and put on mist setting.

 

8:30pm - Transfer baguettes to peel, slash and load onto hot stone.  Spray sides of oven to create steam, place ¾ cup of water in steam pan, close oven, turn off convection, turn oven to 470F and bake for 10 minutes, rotate and bake for another 12 minutes or until internal temp reaches 210F and the crust is deep brown.  Cool for at least 45 minutes before eating...   This is the tough part...  Finished baguette weight should be around 250g each.

 

thebreadfairy's picture
thebreadfairy

Thanks for providing the formula. I, too, have worked with the EKBM formula using up to 70% hydration, without getting the open crumb that you have gotten. Looks like it's worth increasing the water.

Jessica