June 17, 2009 - 8:52am
using biga, poolish etc?
I know how to use a biga when the full amount is required for the completion of the bread making, but when you make enough for several loaves (the Team USA bread), how do you measure it? Does it deflat in the fridge or would you stir it down before you measured it? I hope this question makes some sense.
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but this is where I repeat the party line "That's why we weigh our ingredients"
Especially in this case. How do you measure this thing volumetrically? It will deflate even as you measure it, which suggests that you might want to stir it enough to deflate it before you measure.
I do not have the formula in question, but if you have been given only volumetric measurements, the formula writer should state how you should procede.
Sorry if this sounds harsh. But this is truely a case where weight measurements are far superior to volume measurements.
I actually do weigh my ingredients but this was confusing to me.
I'm mostly an amateur. I read about the water content and I have no idea how people come up with that. I bake lots of bread and have had good luck with taste - I just can't seem to freeform my loaves and get them risen enough. They always spread out unless I bake them in a preheated pan.
I'm just trying to learn............
thanks
your ingredients you are doing fine.
And the volumetric measurement is confusing. As I said, if an author wants to publish formulas that use abiguous measurements, the measurement technique should be explained.
I don't use any formulas that give volumetric measurements, but in this case, if you want to use volume, I would stir down a preferment if it was 100% hydration (equal parts by weight of water and flour).
Freeform is tricky. You might want to try less time for the final ferment. Or put more tension into your shaping.
Some other things to try might be allowing the final ferment (proof) to happen in the refrigerator - this will lend some body to the dough. Or you may wish to work at a lower hydration. You might not want to try either of these two things foreveras they do involve tradeoffs, but they can help you get a few successful loaves baked until you become more proficient.
And you will...it just takes practice.
Take the weight of the water and divide by the weight of the flour and then multiply by 100% to get the %.
Example 1) 100g water divided by 100g flour is 1 1 x 100%= 100% hydration
Example 2) 65g water divided by 100g flour is 0.65 0.65 x 100%= 65% hydration
If you are using oz. weights, remember to convert first, multiply all the lbs. first by 16 and add to the oz. before dividing dry into wet.