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!
I'm no expert, but the way I understand it is that the bread contracts as it cools. For lean breads with a harder crust, the contraction process causes "cracks" in the outer surface and the crackly sound.
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.
Contraction.
I'm no expert, but the way I understand it is that the bread contracts as it cools. For lean breads with a harder crust, the contraction process causes "cracks" in the outer surface and the crackly sound.
David
Crackling crust
Most of us jump up and down and rejoice if we get the crackling or singing crust! Even a tiny amount of crackling makes my day, A.
crackly sound.
Tell your son that the loaves are "singing" because they are so gorgeous. and they are happy they came out right..... ;-))) qahtan
Crackling
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.