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Great-Kazoo
07-11-2014, 12:33
Lately all the baguettes and french bread i've made has gone flat. Get a nice rise, transfer to oven OR grill. Browns nice, but the loaf ends up flatter than Twiggy. I want french or italian style loaves. I end up with a focaccia height result.

Hints, ideas, suggestions welcome. Thanks

68Charger
07-11-2014, 12:40
altitude correction?

Specifically, it sounds like too much leavening for the altitude.

rbeau30
07-11-2014, 13:24
Charcoal grill for baking? or is it gas?

Great-Kazoo
07-11-2014, 13:32
altitude correction?

Specifically, it sounds like too much leavening for the altitude.

following directions / measurements. I'm @ 4800'


Charcoal grill for baking? or is it gas?

traeger pellet grill. It's happening in all cooking environments.

rbeau30
07-11-2014, 13:33
traeger pellet grill. It's happening in all cooking environments.


I wish I could afford one of those. Maybe I should sell some .22LR

davsel
07-11-2014, 14:10
Possibly needs less proof time and 25 - 50 degree higher starting oven temp - adjust cooking time accordingly.

Great-Kazoo
07-11-2014, 14:17
I wish I could afford one of those. Maybe I should sell some .22LR

It was a gift. My cousin moved from a sprawling homestead on id a ho for work down here. he asked if we'd mind storing their traeger for him. MMMM let me think on it.


Possibly needs less proof time and 25 - 50 degree higher starting oven temp - adjust cooking time accordingly.

I was leaning towards less proof time. running 375* on grill 425* in gas oven.

TheGrey
07-11-2014, 15:40
How old is the yeast you're using?

Great-Kazoo
07-11-2014, 15:46
How old is the yeast you're using?

Opened 5-14 -14

TheGrey
07-11-2014, 16:06
Opened 5-14 -14

Wow. That's a stumper- I have no idea why your bread wouldn't be rising. Have you tried using Bread Flour? King Arthur puts out some excellent bread flour that rises beautifully -at least, from my experience. I use a bread maker, though, and toss in about 1/3 c of Vital Wheat Gluten to assist in rising. But that's because it's wheat flour.

Irving
07-11-2014, 16:18
You said "lately, " so have you been successful with this type in the past? I'd so, would increased humidity from storm season be a possible culprit?

SamuraiCO
07-11-2014, 16:40
King Arthur flour has a great FAQ section.

Great-Kazoo
07-11-2014, 16:42
Wow. That's a stumper- I have no idea why your bread wouldn't be rising. Have you tried using Bread Flour? King Arthur puts out some excellent bread flour that rises beautifully -at least, from my experience. I use a bread maker, though, and toss in about 1/3 c of Vital Wheat Gluten to assist in rising. But that's because it's wheat flour.



It's rising. Unfortunately like a cake, when the door is open , drops when cooked. Prior to baking th erise had it looking like a nice french loaf. In it goes, out comes this.

46995

Aloha_Shooter
07-11-2014, 20:31
That sounds like it's losing gases during the baking then. Shorten the rise time and get it in a hot oven to solidify that crust. I presume you're brushing the crust with milk?

Great-Kazoo
07-11-2014, 21:52
That sounds like it's losing gases during the baking then. Shorten the rise time and get it in a hot oven to solidify that crust. I presume you're brushing the crust with milk?

No, olive oil . Other ones have turned out fine. I'm leaning towards the 2nd rise time. I really like the no knead recipe that sits 12-14 hours then cook. However having some fresh hero size loaves is preferred.

Dave
07-12-2014, 09:31
Kneading helps develop gluten. Without enough gluten a french loaf will rise at first and then fall flat as the weaker gluten mesh can't hold onto the gas very well as it expands in the oven. You might look into something like xanthan gum to add some structure.

cofi
07-13-2014, 11:43
Need to toss a cup of ice in when you first put the bread in that will develop a nice crust that won't fall

Also your keeping the yeast in the fridge right?

cofi
07-13-2014, 11:44
Need to toss a cup of ice in when you first put the bread in that will develop a nice crust that won't fall

Also your keeping the yeast in the fridge right?

Are you getting bubbles in your bread??? I can't tell from that pic

Great-Kazoo
07-13-2014, 14:01
Need to toss a cup of ice in when you first put the bread in that will develop a nice crust that won't fall

Also your keeping the yeast in the fridge right?

Are you getting bubbles in your bread??? I can't tell from that pic



of course refrigerated

bubbles in bread after rise. LOTS OF THEM. I think i will do a better job of kneading after 1st rise, before placing in loaf pan. You putting the ice in a pan next to the bread or different shelf?

cofi
07-13-2014, 16:58
of course refrigerated

bubbles in bread after rise. LOTS OF THEM. I think i will do a better job of kneading after 1st rise, before placing in loaf pan. You putting the ice in a pan next to the bread or different shelf?
I don't knead after the first rise at all just slap it down and shape it

i usually just toss the ice on the floor of the oven

Great-Kazoo
07-13-2014, 17:38
I don't knead after the first rise at all just slap it down and shape it

i usually just toss the ice on the floor of the oven

So you slap it down then form to baguettes, si? We're cooking on the traeger. Too hot, even with A/C to be running the oven. Once i get the bread down, time for pizza, and stromboli .
You need to cook your next batch of meatballs on the grill. If you have a smoker, even better.

rbeau30
07-13-2014, 18:47
No, olive oil . Other ones have turned out fine. I'm leaning towards the 2nd rise time. I really like the no knead recipe that sits 12-14 hours then cook. However having some fresh hero size loaves is preferred.


I have done a no knead bread, very delicious. I made french onion soup with it and it was ohhh so good.

Have you done a sourdough no knead? I haven't, but I think bread is my next skill to learn.

Great-Kazoo
07-13-2014, 18:53
I have done a no knead bread, very delicious. I made french onion soup with it and it was ohhh so good.

Have you done a sourdough no knead? I haven't, but I think bread is my next skill to learn.

Not yet, It's definitely a skill set.

Dave
07-13-2014, 20:23
Might I ask how old the flour is? What kind? You might also want to try bread flour designed for machines, it has a higher protein content.

If you are getting two rises, the yeast is fine and is fermenting the carbs available into CO2.

Are you putting yours in a pan or cooking it open like on a stone?

rbeau30
07-13-2014, 20:55
I think a good "bread basics" thread would be good in here... I store wheat and have a mill, I haven't unboxed it yet.

Great-Kazoo
07-13-2014, 21:31
Might I ask how old the flour is? What kind? You might also want to try bread flour designed for machines, it has a higher protein content.

If you are getting two rises, the yeast is fine and is fermenting the carbs available into CO2.

Are you putting yours in a pan or cooking it open like on a stone?

Always fresh Bread flour. This batch is the hungarian 10lb from king stoopers, 6/3 purchase date. . I free form it, even in loaf pans it's been happening. I'm going to work off a few recommendations from you folks and see what happens. I believe part of it is not being gentle enough when placing on grill. here's your bread, SLAM!

https://sp1.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.607993234172677261&pid=15.1&P=0

Dave
07-14-2014, 16:39
I was going to say if you hadn't tried a pan to maybe put one in a dutch oven. I did the Good Eats recipe for a sourdough loaf in one and it came out really nice.

TheGrey
07-14-2014, 22:44
I think a good "bread basics" thread would be good in here... I store wheat and have a mill, I haven't unboxed it yet.

I love that idea!

cofi
07-19-2014, 16:09
[QUOTE=Great-Kazoo;1672931]. I'm going to work off a few recommendations from you folks and see what happens. I believe part of it is not being gentle enough when placing on grill. here's your bread, SLAM!




thats your problem those bubbles are popping when you slam it down and it's falling flat

another thing preheat 20 deg cooler then when you toss it in put the temps correct that surge of heat will push your bread to rise

Great-Kazoo
07-20-2014, 15:24
UPDATE.
Shitcanned the loose hand written recipes i had. Tried a new one, Following start - finish. Once the dough cycle was done, it looked like a less than perfect rise. Oh well, (follow recipe, follow recipe!)
This is the finished product.
47331 47333

This is the recipe
http://www.salad-in-a-jar.com/family-recipes/crusty-french-bread-mixed-in-a-bread-machine

Next test , to see how following an oven recipe translates to the pellet grill Up side of the traeger, i installed the digital temp unit. It stays @ temp ~ 5*.

The brats from Clydes are defrosted, slap them on the smoker around 4. Do a 30 min smoke followed by 1.5 @ 200* split red & yellow banana peppers, rubbed with olive oil and garlic OH YEAH!

cofi
07-20-2014, 20:16
Looks good now get away from those pans and get yourself some good 3/8" baking steel

rbeau30
07-20-2014, 20:36
Looks good now get away from those pans and get yourself some good 3/8" baking steel


What you got?