diff --git a/book/book.tex b/book/book.tex index b8c45f6..34ec2b5 100644 --- a/book/book.tex +++ b/book/book.tex @@ -1,4 +1,3 @@ -% Optimise for A4 size \documentclass[a4paper, 12pt]{book} % General packages @@ -41,6 +40,8 @@ \advance\cftsecnumwidth 0.5em\relax \advance\cftsubsecindent 0.5em\relax \advance\cftsubsecnumwidth 0.5em\relax + +% Space between paragraphs \usepackage[skip=5pt plus1pt, indent=0pt]{parskip} % Define styles for the flow chart graphics diff --git a/book/wheat-sourdough/dough-ball-steps.jpg b/book/wheat-sourdough/dough-ball-steps.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a8f7e09 Binary files /dev/null and b/book/wheat-sourdough/dough-ball-steps.jpg differ diff --git a/book/wheat-sourdough/dough-surface-touchpoints.png b/book/wheat-sourdough/dough-surface-touchpoints.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a5ccf3f Binary files /dev/null and b/book/wheat-sourdough/dough-surface-touchpoints.png differ diff --git a/book/wheat-sourdough/wheat-sourdough.tex b/book/wheat-sourdough/wheat-sourdough.tex index 043d3e1..39a4422 100644 --- a/book/wheat-sourdough/wheat-sourdough.tex +++ b/book/wheat-sourdough/wheat-sourdough.tex @@ -704,6 +704,16 @@ feel. As the dough holds together it will no longer stick to your hands as much. This is a common problem beginners face. A sticky dough is frequently the sign of a not well enough developed gluten network. +\begin{figure}[!htb] + \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{dough-surface-touchpoints} + \caption{A schematic visualization of how a rough dough surface + creates more touch points compared to a smooth dough surface. + By touching the rough surface the dough will swell and get into + contact with more areas of your hand. + } + \label{fig:dough-touch-points} +\end{figure} + Kneading more is great in almost all cases. You'll have a stronger gluten network. Only in case you are making soft milk breads you might want to have a more extensible dough to begin with. For every @@ -719,6 +729,56 @@ However, if the dough is mixed too much, the compounds that contribute to the bread's flavor, aroma, and color may be destroyed, negatively affecting the quality of the bread.\cite{oxidization+dough} +The last step before beginning bulk fermentation is to +create a smooth dough ball. By making sure your dough's surface is +smooth you will have fewer touch points when touching the dough. +See figure \ref{fig:dough-touch-points} for a schematic visualization +of how your hand touches a rugged and smooth dough. +With the smooth surface your dough is going to stick less on your hands. Applying +later stretch and folds will be a lot easier. Without a smooth +surface, the dough becomes almost unworkable. Folding the dough later +becomes an impossible task. This is a frequent mistake I see many +new bakers commit. + +\begin{figure}[!htb] + \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{dough-ball-steps} + \caption{The transformation of a sticky dough blob to a dough + with a smooth surface. The goal is to reduce surface touchpoints + with your hands to make the dough less sticky when working it. + } + \label{fig:dough-ball-steps} +\end{figure} + + +To make the dough's surface smooth place your dough on a wooden board or +on your kitchen's countertop. Drag the dough with your palm over the surface. +A dough scraper could be used here for assistance. +Drag the dough towards you while making sure the top center of the dough stays in place. +It can help to gently place your second hand on top of the dough so that +the dough mass moves while retaining its orientation. Once the whole dough +is too close to the edge of the container/countertop gently move it back +with two hands. By doing so you are stretching the outer surrounding gluten layer. +For this reason, it is important to not use any flour during this process. +By using flour you can no longer drag the dough over the surface and thus +you can't stretch the gluten. Always imagine you are touching something utterly sticky. +By doing so you will automatically try to touch the dough as little +as possible. Keep repeating the process until you see that the dough +has a nice smooth surface. The final dough should look like the dough +shown in \ref{fig:dough-ball-steps}. + +If your outer gluten layer tears you have overstretched your dough. In +that case, take a 10-minute break leaving your dough on the kitchen countertop. +This allows the gluten to re-bond and heal. Repeat the same process +and the damaged rugged areas should disappear. + +The same dough-rounding technique is used later during +the pre-shaping process. After creating dough strength you +have all the time you need to practice rounding. Round the dough +as much as possible until it tears. Then wait the mentioned 10 minutes and repeat. +Later you don't have any room for error. Your technique has to be on point. +An over-pre-shaped dough can potentially not recover. + + \section{Bulk fermentation} After mixing the starter into your dough the next stage of