The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Baked sourdough on my Baking Steel today successfully!

Michael C's picture
Michael C

Baked sourdough on my Baking Steel today successfully!

I usually bake my sourdough in a Dutch oven or my Challenger cast iron baker.  I have had a Baking Steel for several months that I use for pizza and it’s amazing at those bakes.  I tried hearth breads on the steel two weeks ago and it didn’t work well at all.  First off, I have a gas oven.  Steaming it was very unsuccessful and my bread never opened up.  It’s a Blue Star brand and the burner is in the rear wall, not underneath.  This caused burning issues with the loaves last time.  It needs a cover over the dough for some period of the bake, and to hold steam.  
I purchased a hotel steam table pan (about 12 bucks) drilled a small hole in it and used it as a lid today when I injected steam from a inexpensive steam cleaning handheld device.  I did use parchment paper until I took the lid off (20 minutes of steam).  They opened  up very nicely in my opinion and the bottoms looks great without  being too dark.  
I wanted to add, these loaves are 30% whole wheat, 6% rye.  

Michael C's picture
Michael C
Michael C's picture
Michael C
Benito's picture
Benito

I’ve read so many times that people aren’t able to steam their gas ovens.  You have obviously found a very good solution, your loaves look great.

Benny

barryvabeach's picture
barryvabeach

Michael, nice looking loaves.  I have a Bluestar RNB ,  and rarely use it for baking bread ,  due to the way it vents.  There used to be someone who sold a hotel pan with the hole drilled into it and a steamer,  under the name steam bread baker,  but the site is not longer live.   Glad to see it is working for you.  

Michael C's picture
Michael C

I saw the steering method on a website called Breadcetera.  Works great for us gas oven folks.  The steam pan cost 12 dollars so I figured it was worth it.  I wished I could do two loaves at once but it will be tight on the steel I have.  Also considering getting a fibrament stone.