November 3, 2010 - 10:45pm
Visiting SFBI
So I am going to either get a friend to stop or spend my lunch time going to SFBI tomorrow.
http://www.sfbi.com/baking_supplies.html
So I was looking at the round baskets near the top (TRA-B10). Since they are pictured with liners do I need to order liners or just the baskets. Does any one have experience with the liners. Do they make a difference.
If I was to order the Linen Canvas is a yard wide enough or should I order 1.5 or 2?
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I use the bannetons both with and without liners, depending on the dough hydration and the effect I am looking for. Using the basket without a liner results in more transfer of the basket pattern to the dough. However, with very wet doughs, I find the liner makes it easier to get the dough out of the basket. I've never had dough stick to the liner. I believe the basket you are looking at comes with the liner - also the woven pattern of the basket also doesn't work as well without the liner as would a coiled basket (in my opinion).
I have one yard of the linen couche, and that has been plenty if I am only making 2 or 3 loaves at a time. I haven't needed to try it with more, so I can't comment on how it would work if you make more than that. However, if you aren't sure, it doesn't cost much more to get the larger amount, it stores easily, and you will be sure to have enough.
brad
of a liner, sprinkle Rice Flour into the wicker spaces (rice flour is like teflon, nothing sticks). In hindsight, I should have purchased the smaller of the two.
One of these days, I will also get an oblong coiled wicker one. I like the flour pattern it leaves after finished baking.
Best,
anna
PS and remember, if you have an old pure linen shirt, pants, etc in your goodwill bag, would be great as a liner. Pure linen said not to stick, I haven't tried it.
This is probably too late to help you but...
The TRA-B8, 10, 12 baskets come with the linen liner attached to the basket. I have a number of these and they always come with the attached liner. (BTW a really good way to clean them out after use is with a toilet brush (used only for this purpose of course))
On couche width: I use the 18" width because longer loaves wouldn't fit in my oven (or probably most home ovens unless you put them in sideways). Also, I buy it in 1 yard lengths which is fine for up to 4 loaves. I've never tried to put more than that on one couche. You could probably fit more baguettes on one. Keeping it fairly short makes it easy to put the couche and bread on a sheet pan so you can easily move it around
I wouldn't get wide linen with the thought of cutting it into narrower widths because they have a selvedge on each side. If you cut them down they will unravel and fray.
One last recommendation: SFBI isn't a regular store. Their stuff is in a warehouse so if you walk in and order with the idea of leaving right away with your purchases you might be disappointed. You should call ahead (like a day ahead if possible...or at least a few hours) and then they can probably have your stuff ready for you when you get there. They're really, really nice people and might be able to drop everything and get your stuff right away but I wouldn't expect it. Also, if you call to order and have questions about the products they will most likely be able to answer your questions.
-greg
One of my friends at work gets gas at the Costco down the street from SFBI. Other then it was a plan hatched at 10PM last night I now have two proofing baskets. I also picked up the a lame holder and 10 blades and a plastic scraper for about 38$. My Norwich Sourdough will look good in the baskets today.
On a side note I did not expect the included liners to be sewn into the basket. This is not an issue today but I will probably order 2 higher quality baskets and liners so there is some flexibility in what I want to do.
What is the best way to use these baskets since I cant remove the liner. Flour the linen and then brush them off before the dough dries (or is it better after it dries to flake it off).
Next time I want something I want to go visit the SFBI my self but today was short on time.
On cleaning the baskets:
The dough shouldn't stick to the linen so much that it is hard to get it off. I just flour the baskets (including some rice flour if a wet dough will be in the basket more than an hour) and then brush out the remaining flour with the brush after removing the dough. If a little dough is still stuck on I wait until it's dry and then brush it. Otherwise it doesn't really seem to matter when you brush it out.