The difference a basket can make https://www.diningandcooking.com/1554945/the-difference-a-basket-can-make/ #Bread #Sourdough #SourdoughBread
Do you bake it at 500 degrees in these? Do you use a liner or anything?
The baskets are just for proofing. The loaves will get turned out into whatever cookware you’re going to bake in. I use a cast iron dutch oven at 450 for the few loaves I’ve done.
So what exact benefit do they offer? Can you do a ‘One with, One Without’ comparison by any chance? I would be super interested.
The benefit of a proofing basket is in the crust. The basket allows moisture to escape from the surface of the loaf which makes it more dry and makes for ta crispy crust. If you used a normal bowl, the crust would be thin and soft, and when you turn it out for baking it would either stick, ruining the shape, or you would need so much flour you’d have a layer of plaster stuck to the bread. The “skin” you get out of the proofing basket is what you see bakers cuttting through to make the patterns you see. It also makes the pretty lines you see on some loaves.
Dear sweet zombie Jesus, you are a genius. It all makes sense now.
