The Fresh Loaf

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Who Is The Winner? - Medium Rye Comparison

hanseata's picture
hanseata

Who Is The Winner? - Medium Rye Comparison

A while ago I bought a really beautiful book with breads from renowned German bakeries. Many rye bread recipes require medium rye types, easily available in German supermarkets, whereas American medium rye is hard to come by. Even my whole grocer carries only a medium grind of rye, not a lighter variety. European flours are numbered for their ash content (what's left after you forget your bread in the oven - just kidding, of course it's a properly conducted scientific incineration).

There are six rye types in Germany, from white rye (Typ 815 - not available for home bakers) to whole rye (Typ 1800). For many mixed rye/wheat breads one of the medium ryes is used (Typ 1150 or 1370), the whole rye for the darker varieties like Vollkornbrot or Pumpernickel. I tried two of those interesting recipes from "Brot - So backen Deutschlands beste Bäcker", first with the whole rye I mostly use, then with a mix of whole rye and white rye, a leftover from my test baking for the NYBakers.

The first, whole rye, trial was not at all what I expected, the bread didn't taste bad, but was too dark and too dense - a totally different kind of bread. My second trial with a mix of whole and white rye was definitely an improvement, I tried to come up with a flour ratio that emulated medium rye. But still, even though the bread tasted good, it was not quite "right", and I wasn't 100% satisfied.

From my last trip to Hamburg I bought back a package of medium rye Typ 1150, hoping my carry-on would not be searched - I also had a package of roasted spelt kernels, Grünkern, and wasn't quite sure about the legality of this import... Since I didn't want to rely on small flour packages smuggled in my luggage, I looked for a source for American medium rye. The NYBakers carry it, and so I ordered some for a side by side comparison.

I wanted a remake of the Hearty Rye From Hamburg ("Hamburger Kräftiges") - I had posted about my first experiences here: http://www.thefreshloaf.com/node/20765/hearty-rye-and-tricky-recipe

I made two 3-step rye starters with my 100% whole rye mother starter, one fed with American, one with the German medium rye. The American medium rye looked slightly darker. Both starter fermented in sync, and were worked into two loaves with the two medium ryes. This is the result:

Almost identical looking loaves, the upper slightly lighter, made with German Typ 1150, the lower one a bit darker, made with NYBakers medium rye.

But what of the taste? I gave one half of each bread to our bread enthusiastic tenants, and we had samples of the other two halves for lunch. Every one of the testers agreed - the clear winner was: The American Rye! Though both breads tasted really good, the one made with NYBakers' medium rye was definitely better.

Both tasted better than my original substitute with a whole rye/white rye mix. I also made another mixed rye bread a few days later, requiring German Typ 1370, with the American flour, and that, too, was a winner.

I am quite happy with this result, getting the right taste with an American flour - so no more holding-your-breath-with-an-innocent-face, and risk of confiscation for this law abiding citizen (at least until I see some other German must have baking ingredient).

Here is the updated recipe for the Hearty Rye From Hamburg: http://www.thefreshloaf.com/node/25485/hearty-rye-hamburg-hamburger-kr%C3%A4ftiges

Comments

Janetcook's picture
Janetcook

Karin,

Interesting discovery for you!  Better not tell your family in Germany or they will think you have lived abroad way too long:-)

Thank you for posting your results with the photos.  What surprised me is that you can retard this dough overnight!  When I try to retard a dough with a lot of rye in it I end up with a very weak dough by the morning...too many enzymes

I will have to give this formula a try someday....it has to get in line with all the other loaves I want to bake.......and see if I can get the dough to stay intact.

Take Care,

Janet

varda's picture
varda

A new class of international criminal has emerged - artisan bakers.   Notify the border patrol.   Anyhow, nice results and illuminating test.   Have you also tried King Arthur medium rye?   I need to replenish my rye stocks, and all I can buy in the supermarket is whole rye.   -Varda

pmccool's picture
pmccool

Are you trying to get us all caught?!

Paul

hanseata's picture
hanseata

how much additional yeast do you use with the sourdough? I basically retard all my final doughs, rye or not, even Vollkornbrot und Schwarzbrot, but usually not pure sourdoughs. I reduced the amount of instant yeast so that the breads do not overproof, about 1.18% per 100% flour.

Karin

Janetcook's picture
Janetcook

Hi Karin,

I add about .2% IY per 100% flour but the break down happens before refrig. bulk retarding is done.  

I have tried making rye soakers and then mixing the final pre-doughs in the morning which is when I add the IY when using sd.  It has only happened when making rye loaves that are above 50% rye....  When I add .2% IY my bulk ferment in the mornings are usually about 2 hours in length.

 I am thinking this happens because I use freshly ground rye so it has a lot more enzyme activity but I will have to give your formula a go and see what happens.....could have been the summer heat too - now things are cooling down....so many variables!  

With cooler weather I am drawn more to the rye formulas again so maybe this winter I will get it figured out...

Janet

hanseata's picture
hanseata

I can't buy medium rye unless I mail order it. I took advantage of NYBakers' anniversary waiver of shipping fees, and ordered medium rye from them. I know that King Arthur carries it, too, maybe try that next time to see whether there is any difference.

I like these test drives (and probably bore my long suffering husband enlarging on the details), and it is a heartfelt need for me to try to bake German and other European breads with US ingredients. My customers seem to enjoy my excursions into foreign bread tastes - everything sells pretty fast.

Right now I waiting for some "Simits" to go into the oven, my first trial at (ring shaped) Turkish sesame breads. I had them during my last visit in Germany, in the most beautiful (Turkish) bakery I've ever seen.

Karin

Karin

highmtnpam's picture
highmtnpam

 

soon who nows what knows what horrors will begin.

 :) Pam

 

 

 

 

hanseata's picture
hanseata

my husband always says, complaining that I speak in tongues and that Germans, apart from starting wars, have a guttural accent, too... :)

Karin