The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

my process or my new flour?

1nolaguy's picture
1nolaguy

my process or my new flour?

Hello and thank you for letting me join the discussion. Lately I have been into small baggets  as I am working on developing a easy process for making bread while on the road in our RV. As part of the process I have been modifying a basic lean high hydration recipe starting with a poolish for 12 hours (about) and then creating a dough at 70% hydration. I have been modifying the flour from 100% bread flour (+12% protein) to 85% bread flour + 15% whole wheat (KA high protien) flour. Recently I bought a bulk bag of bread flour at Sam's Club and switched when I ran out of GOld Metal (I had on hand). I am generally not a flour brand snob as long as the protein % is high enough for bread as in traveling you can not always pick your brand.

Anyway. Of late I am having issues. In dough formation I can not seem to get enough gluten formation, even with 100% bread dough. Even after 4 folding sessions over several hours and over followed with hand kneading, the dough remains a bit shaggy, tears easy and remain "wet" and sticky. I am fermenting at 68 DegF.  Is it my process or is it the flour?

phaz's picture
phaz

Leavening used? Enjoy!