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---
title: straight and poolish baguettes
author: Wouter
type: post
date: 2012-08-13T10:35:50+00:00
url: /straight-and-poolish-baguettes/
featured_image: /wp-content/uploads/2012/08/MG_6742.jpg
tags:
- baguettes
---
Most baguettes nowadays are made with a &#8220;_straight dough_&#8221; which indicates the dough has risen for about 4 hours in total, without an additional preferment (sourdough or not). There&#8217;s a clear difference in taste (and as you will see, also in structure) between both methods, and I wanted to bake both side by side to be able to compare them well.<figure id="attachment_382" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
[<img class="size-medium wp-image-382" title="_MG_6742" src="https://redzuurdesem.be/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/MG_6742-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://redzuurdesem.be/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/MG_6742-300x200.jpg 300w, https://redzuurdesem.be/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/MG_6742-700x467.jpg 700w, https://redzuurdesem.be/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/MG_6742.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />][1]<figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Freshly baked baguettes</figcaption></figure>
Both recipes came from Jeffrey Hamelman&#8217;s &#8220;BREAD&#8221; book. There are slight differences in fermentation times and hydratation percentages but they are subtle. The **straight version** contains **70%** water and the **poolish version** only **68%**. But as the latter is done with a preferment of 30%, it has more structure and gluten development on it&#8217;s own, which translates in less kneading time.
Therefore, Mr. Hamelman suggests to only fold the poolish version once after an hour. Fermentation time has been **decreased** with the **poolish version** by one hour because the yeast is already much more active than the &#8220;straight dough&#8221; version (which is called &#8220;French Bread&#8221;). The straight version got 2 folds over a period of one hour (2,5 &#8211; 3 hour fermenting).<figure style="width: 150px" class="wp-caption alignleft">
[<img title="_MG_6739.JPG" src="https://lh5.ggpht.com/-BA80fhDdfJY/UCgZnug-BCI/AAAAAAAAGcA/MtlDINz1AiY/s150-c/_MG_6739.JPG" alt="_MG_6739.JPG" width="150" height="150" />][2]<figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Just out of the oven: poolish version on the left</figcaption></figure> <figure style="width: 150px" class="wp-caption alignleft">[<img title="_MG_6732.JPG" src="https://lh4.ggpht.com/-tRkXv-0Qk5U/UCgZkXp-_JI/AAAAAAAAGbo/z5J54Q1EL10/s150-c/_MG_6732.JPG" alt="_MG_6732.JPG" width="150" height="150" />][3]<figcaption class="wp-caption-text">I used my baker&#8217;s linen for the first time with great success!</figcaption></figure> <figure style="width: 150px" class="wp-caption alignleft">[<img title="120820122018.jpg" src="https://lh5.ggpht.com/-0TITiYYs2Kc/UCgZlU9Hk2I/AAAAAAAAGbw/0F2qy0z9gKY/s150-c/120820122018.jpg" alt="120820122018.jpg" width="150" height="150" />][4]<figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Crumb structure: poolish version on the bottom</figcaption></figure>
<div style="clear: both;">
What&#8217;s odd though, is that the poolish version has a more open structure than the straight version, even with the (very slightly) decreased hydratation level! I think it&#8217;s largely due to the cuts on the baguettes. It might not be visible on the pictures, but some cuts bloomed nicely during the oven spring and some did not &#8211; the volume of the baguettes is largely dependant on correct cuts. I did not bake on a stone, just a non pre-heated sheet pan.
</div>
<div style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div style="clear: both;">
Here are both recipes:
</div>
<div style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div style="clear: both;">
<strong>poolish version</strong>
</div>
<div style="clear: both;">
<ol>
<li>
33% preferment at 100% hydratation with a speck of commercial yeast (1/8 tspn), 14h rested on the counter at 22°C
</li>
<li>
final dough: 66% hydratation with 1tspn of commercial yeast
</li>
<li>
bulk ferment: 2 hours with 1 fold in between. proofing: 1 hour at 23°C.
</li>
</ol>
<p>
<strong>straight version</strong>
</p>
<ol>
<li>
70% hydratation, 1tspn of commercial yeast
</li>
<li>
bulk ferment: 3 hours, folded twice at 22°C.
</li>
<li>
proofing: 1 to 2 hours at 22-23°C.
</li>
</ol><figure id="attachment_385" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<a href="https://redzuurdesem.be/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/MG_6738.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-385 " title="Proofing baguettes on a floured linen" src="https://redzuurdesem.be/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/MG_6738-300x200.jpg" alt="Proofing baguettes on a floured linen" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://redzuurdesem.be/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/MG_6738-300x200.jpg 300w, https://redzuurdesem.be/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/MG_6738-700x467.jpg 700w, https://redzuurdesem.be/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/MG_6738.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Proofing baguettes on a floured linen</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<h2 style="clear: both;">
Lessons learned:
</h2>
* Baked too high for too long (250°C), turn down oven temp faster!
* Underproofed for both versions. I need work on my shaping skills, they did not hold up well and I was afraid that they might have been overproofed so I popped them into the oven too soon. The straight version baguettes are too flat for my liking.
* I&#8217;m getting better at scoring! The added steam into the oven helps, but baking on a stone would be an even greater difference.
* The baker&#8217;s linen is a **wonderful thing**, it does not stick at all and keeps the baguettes from touching each other.
I think I&#8217;ll skip the &#8220;French Bread&#8221; recipe next time and concentrate on getting better at the poolish version instead. They tasted much better and I felt a little bit more confident handling them.
[1]: https://redzuurdesem.be/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/MG_6742.jpg
[2]: http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BA80fhDdfJY/UCgZnug-BCI/AAAAAAAAGcA/MtlDINz1AiY/s1024/_MG_6739.JPG "_MG_6739.JPG"
[3]: http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tRkXv-0Qk5U/UCgZkXp-_JI/AAAAAAAAGbo/z5J54Q1EL10/s1024/_MG_6732.JPG "_MG_6732.JPG"
[4]: http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0TITiYYs2Kc/UCgZlU9Hk2I/AAAAAAAAGbw/0F2qy0z9gKY/s1024/120820122018.jpg "120820122018.jpg"