• Interesting Take on Blistered Crust

    From Boron Elgar@21:1/5 to All on Sun Feb 28 19:02:09 2021
    Ran into this online about sourdough blistering. Now I get to poke
    around and see if it makes sense.

    "This is because acidic conditions created by sourdough breaks down
    the gluten near the surface. As the bread bakes, steam is created and
    it escapes through mini-chimneys all throughout the crust where the
    gluten has been weakened. Those mini-chimneys end up looking like
    blisters."

    https://wheatbeat.com/blisters/

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Graham@21:1/5 to Boron Elgar on Sun Feb 28 22:06:02 2021
    On 2021-02-28 5:02 p.m., Boron Elgar wrote:

    Ran into this online about sourdough blistering. Now I get to poke
    around and see if it makes sense.

    "This is because acidic conditions created by sourdough breaks down
    the gluten near the surface. As the bread bakes, steam is created and
    it escapes through mini-chimneys all throughout the crust where the
    gluten has been weakened. Those mini-chimneys end up looking like
    blisters."

    https://wheatbeat.com/blisters/

    My teachers at the local Alliance Française told me that they did not
    like N.American style sourdough. The French equivalent, pain uu levain,
    has a more subtle flavour, probably because the levain is kept at ~60% hydration rather than the 100% hydration typical of sourdoughs. ISTR
    that the high hydration favours the acid.
    Therefore French boulangers see the blisters as a fault.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Boron Elgar@21:1/5 to Graham on Mon Mar 1 14:09:57 2021
    On Sun, 28 Feb 2021 22:06:02 -0700, Graham <g.stereo@shaw.ca> wrote:

    On 2021-02-28 5:02 p.m., Boron Elgar wrote:

    Ran into this online about sourdough blistering. Now I get to poke
    around and see if it makes sense.

    "This is because acidic conditions created by sourdough breaks down
    the gluten near the surface. As the bread bakes, steam is created and
    it escapes through mini-chimneys all throughout the crust where the
    gluten has been weakened. Those mini-chimneys end up looking like
    blisters."

    https://wheatbeat.com/blisters/

    My teachers at the local Alliance Française told me that they did not
    like N.American style sourdough. The French equivalent, pain uu levain,
    has a more subtle flavour, probably because the levain is kept at ~60% >hydration rather than the 100% hydration typical of sourdoughs. ISTR
    that the high hydration favours the acid.
    Therefore French boulangers see the blisters as a fault.


    Are these levains mixed for each bake and based on a mother starter,
    so that the mother starter is kept at 60%? Or are these levains
    started with a bit of commercial yeast? I have seen both types
    referenced.

    I bet the hydration of the final dough and the length of proof have
    some influence on it, too.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Boron Elgar@21:1/5 to Graham on Mon Mar 1 14:26:10 2021
    On Sun, 28 Feb 2021 22:06:02 -0700, Graham <g.stereo@shaw.ca> wrote:

    On 2021-02-28 5:02 p.m., Boron Elgar wrote:

    Ran into this online about sourdough blistering. Now I get to poke
    around and see if it makes sense.

    "This is because acidic conditions created by sourdough breaks down
    the gluten near the surface. As the bread bakes, steam is created and
    it escapes through mini-chimneys all throughout the crust where the
    gluten has been weakened. Those mini-chimneys end up looking like
    blisters."

    https://wheatbeat.com/blisters/

    My teachers at the local Alliance Française told me that they did not
    like N.American style sourdough. The French equivalent, pain uu levain,
    has a more subtle flavour, probably because the levain is kept at ~60% >hydration rather than the 100% hydration typical of sourdoughs. ISTR
    that the high hydration favours the acid.
    Therefore French boulangers see the blisters as a fault.

    A bit of clarification and questioning, too... I always thought lower
    hydration makes a starter produce more acetic acid, so the final
    product is tangier.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Graham@21:1/5 to Boron Elgar on Mon Mar 1 16:08:50 2021
    On 2021-03-01 12:26 p.m., Boron Elgar wrote:
    On Sun, 28 Feb 2021 22:06:02 -0700, Graham <g.stereo@shaw.ca> wrote:

    On 2021-02-28 5:02 p.m., Boron Elgar wrote:

    Ran into this online about sourdough blistering. Now I get to poke
    around and see if it makes sense.

    "This is because acidic conditions created by sourdough breaks down
    the gluten near the surface. As the bread bakes, steam is created and
    it escapes through mini-chimneys all throughout the crust where the
    gluten has been weakened. Those mini-chimneys end up looking like
    blisters."

    https://wheatbeat.com/blisters/

    My teachers at the local Alliance Française told me that they did not
    like N.American style sourdough. The French equivalent, pain uu levain,
    has a more subtle flavour, probably because the levain is kept at ~60%
    hydration rather than the 100% hydration typical of sourdoughs. ISTR
    that the high hydration favours the acid.
    Therefore French boulangers see the blisters as a fault.

    A bit of clarification and questioning, too... I always thought lower hydration makes a starter produce more acetic acid, so the final
    product is tangier.

    I follow the French style and use low hydration starters and mix to ~70%
    and the sour note is very muted or absent.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Graham@21:1/5 to Boron Elgar on Mon Mar 1 16:24:23 2021
    On 2021-03-01 12:09 p.m., Boron Elgar wrote:
    On Sun, 28 Feb 2021 22:06:02 -0700, Graham <g.stereo@shaw.ca> wrote:

    On 2021-02-28 5:02 p.m., Boron Elgar wrote:

    Ran into this online about sourdough blistering. Now I get to poke
    around and see if it makes sense.

    "This is because acidic conditions created by sourdough breaks down
    the gluten near the surface. As the bread bakes, steam is created and
    it escapes through mini-chimneys all throughout the crust where the
    gluten has been weakened. Those mini-chimneys end up looking like
    blisters."

    https://wheatbeat.com/blisters/

    My teachers at the local Alliance Française told me that they did not
    like N.American style sourdough. The French equivalent, pain uu levain,
    has a more subtle flavour, probably because the levain is kept at ~60%
    hydration rather than the 100% hydration typical of sourdoughs. ISTR
    that the high hydration favours the acid.
    Therefore French boulangers see the blisters as a fault.


    Are these levains mixed for each bake and based on a mother starter,
    so that the mother starter is kept at 60%? Or are these levains
    started with a bit of commercial yeast? I have seen both types
    referenced.

    I bet the hydration of the final dough and the length of proof have
    some influence on it, too.

    I certainly think the length of proof has an influence on the "tang".
    AIUI, the French use lower hydrations as their flour is softer. A
    Belgian baker set up in Calgary some years ago and he told me he had a
    helluva job adjusting his recipes to Alberta flour. He told me that he
    had to add a lot more water than he had in Belgium with the softer flours.
    It used to be that the standard, and government mandated, recipe for
    bread in France was 100:60:2:2 in bakers' percentages.
    I'm not sure about whether it is standard practice in France to add
    yeast to their pain au levain. However, there is a video of a baker in
    the Poilâne basement preparing the dough for the famous miche and he
    adds yeast.
    I'll have to get the Appolonia Poilâne book from the library because I
    think the recipe she quotes has yeast. I'll have to see if Calvel has
    anything on the subject.
    Dammit, there is so much folklore involving SD!!

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Boron Elgar@21:1/5 to Graham on Mon Mar 1 19:15:18 2021
    On Mon, 1 Mar 2021 16:24:23 -0700, Graham <g.stereo@shaw.ca> wrote:

    On 2021-03-01 12:09 p.m., Boron Elgar wrote:
    On Sun, 28 Feb 2021 22:06:02 -0700, Graham <g.stereo@shaw.ca> wrote:

    On 2021-02-28 5:02 p.m., Boron Elgar wrote:

    Ran into this online about sourdough blistering. Now I get to poke
    around and see if it makes sense.

    "This is because acidic conditions created by sourdough breaks down
    the gluten near the surface. As the bread bakes, steam is created and
    it escapes through mini-chimneys all throughout the crust where the
    gluten has been weakened. Those mini-chimneys end up looking like
    blisters."

    https://wheatbeat.com/blisters/

    My teachers at the local Alliance Française told me that they did not
    like N.American style sourdough. The French equivalent, pain uu levain,
    has a more subtle flavour, probably because the levain is kept at ~60%
    hydration rather than the 100% hydration typical of sourdoughs. ISTR
    that the high hydration favours the acid.
    Therefore French boulangers see the blisters as a fault.


    Are these levains mixed for each bake and based on a mother starter,
    so that the mother starter is kept at 60%? Or are these levains
    started with a bit of commercial yeast? I have seen both types
    referenced.

    I bet the hydration of the final dough and the length of proof have
    some influence on it, too.

    I certainly think the length of proof has an influence on the "tang".
    AIUI, the French use lower hydrations as their flour is softer. A
    Belgian baker set up in Calgary some years ago and he told me he had a >helluva job adjusting his recipes to Alberta flour. He told me that he
    had to add a lot more water than he had in Belgium with the softer flours.
    It used to be that the standard, and government mandated, recipe for
    bread in France was 100:60:2:2 in bakers' percentages.
    I'm not sure about whether it is standard practice in France to add
    yeast to their pain au levain. However, there is a video of a baker in
    the Poilâne basement preparing the dough for the famous miche and he
    adds yeast.
    I'll have to get the Appolonia Poilâne book from the library because I
    think the recipe she quotes has yeast. I'll have to see if Calvel has >anything on the subject.

    Dammit, there is so much folklore involving SD!!

    I've no compunctions about tossing in a bit of yeast if I think there
    is some reason for it. One of my favorite deli ryes sometimes gets a
    sprinkle, as I do not always have a blossoming rye starter if I decide
    I want to make some the next day or so.

    I have not opened my Clavel in so many years, I am not even sure where
    it is now. I wonder if I even have it.....

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Graham@21:1/5 to Graham on Mon Mar 1 18:39:58 2021
    On 2021-03-01 6:37 p.m., Graham wrote:
    On 2021-03-01 5:15 p.m., Boron Elgar wrote:
    On Mon, 1 Mar 2021 16:24:23 -0700, Graham <g.stereo@shaw.ca> wrote:

    On 2021-03-01 12:09 p.m., Boron Elgar wrote:
    On Sun, 28 Feb 2021 22:06:02 -0700, Graham <g.stereo@shaw.ca> wrote:

    On 2021-02-28 5:02 p.m., Boron Elgar wrote:

    Ran into this online about sourdough blistering. Now I get to poke >>>>>> around and see if it makes sense.

    "This is because acidic conditions created by sourdough breaks down >>>>>> the gluten near the surface. As the bread bakes, steam is created and >>>>>> it escapes through mini-chimneys all throughout the crust where the >>>>>> gluten has been weakened. Those mini-chimneys end up looking like
    blisters."

    https://wheatbeat.com/blisters/

    My teachers at the local Alliance Française told me that they did not >>>>> like N.American style sourdough. The French equivalent, pain uu
    levain,
    has a more subtle flavour, probably because the levain is kept at ~60% >>>>> hydration rather than the 100% hydration typical of sourdoughs. ISTR >>>>> that the high hydration favours the acid.
    Therefore French boulangers see the blisters as a fault.


    Are these levains mixed for each bake and based on a mother starter,
    so that the mother starter is kept at 60%? Or are these levains
    started with a bit of commercial yeast? I have seen both types
    referenced.

    I bet the hydration of the final dough and the length of proof have
    some influence on it, too.

    I certainly think the length of proof has an influence on the "tang".
    AIUI, the French use lower hydrations as their flour is softer. A
    Belgian baker set up in Calgary some years ago and he told me he had a
    helluva job adjusting his recipes to Alberta flour. He told me that he
    had to add a lot more water than he had in Belgium with the softer
    flours.
    It used to be that the standard, and government mandated, recipe for
    bread in France was 100:60:2:2 in bakers' percentages.
    I'm not sure about whether it is standard practice in France to add
    yeast to their pain au levain. However, there is a video of a baker in
    the Poilâne basement preparing the dough for the famous miche and he
    adds yeast.
    I'll have to get the Appolonia Poilâne book from the library because I
    think the recipe she quotes has yeast. I'll have to see if Calvel has
    anything on the subject.

    Dammit, there is so much folklore involving SD!!

    I've no compunctions about tossing in a bit of yeast if I think there
    is some reason for it. One of my favorite deli ryes sometimes gets a
    sprinkle, as I do not always have a blossoming rye starter if I decide
    I want to make some the next day or so.

    I have not opened my Clavel in so many years, I am not even sure where
    it is now. I wonder if I even have it.....

    Here is my review of Appolonia Poilâne's book from the local library website:

    "If you are a keen bread baker then there’s not that much here for you. Indeed, the 1, 2 and 3 star reviews at Amazon pretty well summarize its shortcomings, even though it is an attractive volume.

    There are only 6 bread recipes (2 "SD", 2 rye, pain de mie and brioche)
    3 gluten free loaves, some cake and pie recipes and, it seems, a lot for dishes using bread or breadcrumbs. The recipe for the famous "Punition" cookie is given and there are instructions on how to make cultured butter.

    The recipe for the famous miche starts with making the levain with some yoghurt in the recipe and then puts yeast in the final mix. This despite
    the fact that Appolonia has stated elsewhere that it is a naturally
    leavened bread.

    I have eaten the walnut bread from the London branch and I have tried to duplicate it without much success. Here she gives the proportion of nuts
    to the standard dough so that might prove helpful. However, the walnut
    loaves that I bought appear to have contained a much higher proportion
    of nuts."

    BTW the title of the book is: Poilâne
    The Secrets of the World-famous Bread Bakery

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Graham@21:1/5 to Boron Elgar on Mon Mar 1 18:37:56 2021
    On 2021-03-01 5:15 p.m., Boron Elgar wrote:
    On Mon, 1 Mar 2021 16:24:23 -0700, Graham <g.stereo@shaw.ca> wrote:

    On 2021-03-01 12:09 p.m., Boron Elgar wrote:
    On Sun, 28 Feb 2021 22:06:02 -0700, Graham <g.stereo@shaw.ca> wrote:

    On 2021-02-28 5:02 p.m., Boron Elgar wrote:

    Ran into this online about sourdough blistering. Now I get to poke
    around and see if it makes sense.

    "This is because acidic conditions created by sourdough breaks down
    the gluten near the surface. As the bread bakes, steam is created and >>>>> it escapes through mini-chimneys all throughout the crust where the
    gluten has been weakened. Those mini-chimneys end up looking like
    blisters."

    https://wheatbeat.com/blisters/

    My teachers at the local Alliance Française told me that they did not >>>> like N.American style sourdough. The French equivalent, pain uu levain, >>>> has a more subtle flavour, probably because the levain is kept at ~60% >>>> hydration rather than the 100% hydration typical of sourdoughs. ISTR
    that the high hydration favours the acid.
    Therefore French boulangers see the blisters as a fault.


    Are these levains mixed for each bake and based on a mother starter,
    so that the mother starter is kept at 60%? Or are these levains
    started with a bit of commercial yeast? I have seen both types
    referenced.

    I bet the hydration of the final dough and the length of proof have
    some influence on it, too.

    I certainly think the length of proof has an influence on the "tang".
    AIUI, the French use lower hydrations as their flour is softer. A
    Belgian baker set up in Calgary some years ago and he told me he had a
    helluva job adjusting his recipes to Alberta flour. He told me that he
    had to add a lot more water than he had in Belgium with the softer flours. >> It used to be that the standard, and government mandated, recipe for
    bread in France was 100:60:2:2 in bakers' percentages.
    I'm not sure about whether it is standard practice in France to add
    yeast to their pain au levain. However, there is a video of a baker in
    the Poilâne basement preparing the dough for the famous miche and he
    adds yeast.
    I'll have to get the Appolonia Poilâne book from the library because I
    think the recipe she quotes has yeast. I'll have to see if Calvel has
    anything on the subject.

    Dammit, there is so much folklore involving SD!!

    I've no compunctions about tossing in a bit of yeast if I think there
    is some reason for it. One of my favorite deli ryes sometimes gets a sprinkle, as I do not always have a blossoming rye starter if I decide
    I want to make some the next day or so.

    I have not opened my Clavel in so many years, I am not even sure where
    it is now. I wonder if I even have it.....

    Here is my review of Appolonia Poilâne's book from the local library
    website:

    "If you are a keen bread baker then there’s not that much here for you. Indeed, the 1, 2 and 3 star reviews at Amazon pretty well summarize its shortcomings, even though it is an attractive volume.

    There are only 6 bread recipes (2 "SD", 2 rye, pain de mie and brioche)
    3 gluten free loaves, some cake and pie recipes and, it seems, a lot for
    dishes using bread or breadcrumbs. The recipe for the famous "Punition"
    cookie is given and there are instructions on how to make cultured butter.

    The recipe for the famous miche starts with making the levain with some
    yoghurt in the recipe and then puts yeast in the final mix. This despite
    the fact that Appolonia has stated elsewhere that it is a naturally
    leavened bread.

    I have eaten the walnut bread from the London branch and I have tried to duplicate it without much success. Here she gives the proportion of nuts
    to the standard dough so that might prove helpful. However, the walnut
    loaves that I bought appear to have contained a much higher proportion
    of nuts."

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)