The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Tip - Couche Tweak

DanAyo's picture
DanAyo

Tip - Couche Tweak

The cumulative results of a bunch of tiny tweaks often make a huge difference in the outcome. Ask any Olympian, or any other individual who has attained super star status. Excellence is often found in the minutiae.

With that in mind, the “Tips - “ section was created. Some of them are good and others, not so much. You get to pick and choose.

Most bakers fold their couche for storage. But a 2 foot length of PVC pipe may provide a few small benefits. Simply split a PVC pipe on a table saw.

  1. Rolls up for storage
  2. Makes a nice support “wall” for the first dough
  3. Nice to wrap around and cover dough with the extra length when filled with baguettes

Latest upgrades -
The PVC pipe shown above is the exact width of my baking stone. I load baguettes side ways because I like them long. The couche was hemmed on both sides of the width to fit the exact length of the PVC. The hem that goes into the PVC slot was also rolled over (to thicken it) and was also sewed.

Won’t change to world, but is a nice addition for me.




 

Benito's picture
Benito

Great idea Dan, that makes it a nice neat easy roll.

jl's picture
jl (not verified)

Are you really not supposed to wash it at all?

DanAyo's picture
DanAyo

Did you notice what I wrote on the edges of my couche? (See original post)

Because I have a terrible memory, this is my modus operandi. LOL

 

Gadjowheaty's picture
Gadjowheaty

HAHAHA!  Man after my own heart, Dan!  

Gadjowheaty's picture
Gadjowheaty

I haven't washed mine in over 15 years, jl.  Maybe I'm really, really just gross unknowingly, lol. I like making a home for the good small critters, to a fault, probably.  Just scrape them of dried crud if something sticks or just build up.  I fold them loosely to allow them to dry.  They stay atop my stack of bannetons.

Great idea Dan.  I've always found the end-sides of the couche challenging.  Just trying to roll them tight and snugging the roll seam side down against the batard or baguette isn't enough (though I see the French guys maddeningly doing it all the time) so it used to be a motley crew of weighted bottles, bread boxes, whatever, to keep the linen up against the side of the proofing dough.  Recently I thought to put my heavy wood straight rolling pins up against the side, and just slide dough scrapers slightly underneath to keep them in place.  Works great but sure takes up a bunch of real estate.

Love your idea.  Very clever.

idaveindy's picture
idaveindy

All this couche-couche talk reminds me of Charo.

Danni3ll3's picture
Danni3ll3

Although I think she went Couchi Couchi!

idaveindy's picture
idaveindy

What did one piece of baguette dough say to the other piece of baguette dough right before the overnight retard?

Gadjowheaty's picture
Gadjowheaty

I'm in.

I dunno, what did one piece of baguette dough say to the other piece of baguette dough right before the overnight retard?

Ilya Flyamer's picture
Ilya Flyamer

"What a soft couche-on!"?

alfanso's picture
alfanso

couchez avec moi c'est soir.

"Lady Marmalade"

idaveindy's picture
idaveindy

https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/34033741/Patti+LaBelle/Lady+Marmalade

From Wiki: The song first became a popular hit when it was recorded in 1974 by the American girl group Labelle. Labelle held the number-one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for one week, and also topped the Canadian RPM national singles chart. In 2021, the Library of Congress selected Labelle's version for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or artistically significant." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Marmalade

DanAyo's picture
DanAyo

I wonder is that was the fore runner for rap.

alfanso's picture
alfanso

is what I use to keep my rolled up couche in.  Protects the dried couche as well as keeps errant flour off of whatever the bag sits on/under.  Available at a restaurant or department store entrance near you.

Now, to get to the red meat.  I didn't want to continue to hijack the thread, so...

Isaac Hayes specialized in an early pre-form of rap years before LaBelle ever released Lady Marmalade, which never struck me as a "rap" type of song.  Rap has African roots but was beginning to be popularized in the schoolyards and parties in NYC in the early 70's as well.