Keeping draughts off rising dough

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tombear

On a new journey
Jul 9, 2004
4,494
556
54
Rossendale, Lancashire
The shower cap doesn't come into contact with the dough but sort of forms a balloon above the tin and of course you can easily see how the rising is going. No need to oil and I've used the same one three times now and no sign of damage.

At home I tend to use 4 to 5 pounds of flour at a time. If it's warm enough to dry on the line the kitchen window it is warm enough to get a good rise, if not the dryer is usually on as i bake and the work surface above that is a great place to leave stuff to rise. I keep the pancheons I use for first rising on the window sill which since it catches the morning sun means they are usually warm to start with. The pancheons, especially the 17 inch are big enough to fit over 2 lb bread tins or pizza trays which I like to use for cottage loaves and alike. I went through a stage of using inverted clear plastic boxes over the oblong trays but they would just get taken and filled with kit in between baking sessions.

Much as I like the idea of sourdough I've discovered I don't actually like the taste of the stuff. The local Asda and Tesco backers still hand over free cake/live yeast when asked, at least 2oz a go as a rule unless it's a trainee who will hand over about a half pound of the stuff. What i'm waiting for is the middle son to pull his finger out and actually use all the beer making kit he had me acquire in my scavenging I really want to try using the frothy stuff that's a by product of brewing like they did back in the day.

ATB

Tom
 
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tombear

On a new journey
Jul 9, 2004
4,494
556
54
Rossendale, Lancashire
Ha! they must have stolen the idea from the site where ever I did last year! I tried using shower caps from a pound shop at first ,3 to the packet but they were too thick and rubbery and you couldn't see through them. They had rings of thin tubing to keep their shape inside, easily pulled out and in the end more useful that the caps themselves as they are just the right gauge to use to pad out the piano wire hooks that take the rubber motors on my silly balsa and tissue planes. the faux lace round the edge and girly colours and patterns on them didn't appeal either.

ATB

Tom
 

Robson Valley

Full Member
Nov 24, 2014
9,959
2,665
McBride, BC
I'll stay with the Cling Wrap.
Working in sheet pans to make focaccia or fougasse, the shower caps would never make it.
For loaf pans, pretty clever fix.
 

Robson Valley

Full Member
Nov 24, 2014
9,959
2,665
McBride, BC
I've seen bread baked in unglazed terra cotta flower pots.
Need to try that.
The shower caps would be ideal.

My house is set to hold the upstairs kitchen at 20C.
The yeasty beasties like 25C. So I get the flour out, first thing in the morning.
Plug in a 1.5kW fan heater for the kitchen, make bread at noon.

Warm enough now that the heater never needs using.

But it's dry. The cling wrap does not need to be tucked in tight.
Just floating on top is enough, any time of the year.
 

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