Leaving milk/mix out overnight?

Submitted by jackie9999 on May 15, 2009 - 10:45am

Leaving milk/mix out overnight?

I'm looking at some recipes I'd like to try (wildyeast muffins and jmonkeys wholewheat sandwich bread) but what's holding me back is that you mix milk up the night before, with other ingredients, and leave on the counter? It's something I would never have done before..?

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Submitted by Janknitz on May 15, 2009 - 11:18am.

Eggs too

I have been using a recipe for challah that has a pre-ferment with an egg in it that sits on the counter overnight. It made me wonder too, but the recipe is from a trusted source and it has not been a problem.

Everyone in my family (except me) is sick right now with a tummy bug, but we didn't eat MY challah last weekend, so I can't blame that ;o)

Submitted by proth5 on May 15, 2009 - 12:46pm.

Interestingly enough

I just got involved in a discussion like this at a culinary school just last weekend.

The thinking went this way:

Whatever you have in the morning, it will be baked to a temperature that will kill most organisms
Sour milk has been a baking ingredient for years - no need to worry about the milk being sour in the morning - it will be fine
Eggs might sit under the hen for 18 hours and they are plenty warm - yet we eat them without harm (and again, they are cooked)
In Europe eggs are stored (albeit unwashed and in their shells) at room temperature without harm.
I, personally, eat butter (uncooked) made with cream that has set out overnight to culture - without any harm (except from the calories, alas!)

In short, we came to the conclusion that it was perfectly fine. And the baked goods we ate that were made with an eggy pre ferment were delicious and caused no harm.

Hope this helps.

Submitted by jackie9999 on May 16, 2009 - 9:35am.

convincing points proth5

I took the plunge and made the wildyeast muffins. I made with my discarded starter from the weekend and used 2% milk, then it sits out overnight. They were excellent, a meal in themselves :)

Submitted by Paddyscake on May 15, 2009 - 7:45pm.

Sourdough waffles..

I use a recipe from King Arthur that calls for 2 cups of buttermilk, starter and flour left out overnight. Believe me, heaven on a plate for breakfast. I don't think a company like KA would put out a recipe that had any chance of making people ill.

jmonkeys wholewheat bread is awesome. Go for it!

Betty

Submitted by celestica on May 15, 2009 - 8:28pm.