The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Poolish bread spreading out rather than rising upwards

Steffi's picture
Steffi

Poolish bread spreading out rather than rising upwards

I have tried sourdoughs, plain white breads, and poolish. My ultimate goal is a crunchy crust and soft, holey crumb. Poolish recipes have gotten me the best results for the least complexity, but the loaves won't rise "upwards". I spray the hot oven with water to get the crust crunchy; I let the preferment sit for 12 hours; I allow long slow rises with folding in between. I let the dough "rest" after the first mixing, and before shaping. The dough rises nicely, but becomes slack after I shape it. After the shaping, it never retains the nice oval or ball-like form I've given it. What's up?

http://imgur.com/a/7Bnxq

PetraR's picture
PetraR

If you could post the recipe you are using we could help better:)

Steffi's picture
Steffi

hi! I used this:

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/european-style-hearth-bread-recipe

 

But used active dry yeast instead.

Mini Oven's picture
Mini Oven

Poolish preferment fermentation is roughly approximated. Some flours ferment faster than others.   Try only 8 hrs. for the poolish preferment or reduce the pinch size amount to much less for a 12 hr ferment.  Temperature plays a big role. 

Mini

Laurentius's picture
Laurentius

Are you placing it in a basket or bowl for final fermentation to give a little vertical bracing? 

Wartface's picture
Wartface

watch this video about how to make a baguette. It might help you.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YA3-xFLfZ-k