Why do We Need to Knead?
Bread dough needs to be elastic in order to capture the gases created by the yeast, stretch as bubbles form in the dough, expand, and rise. Without that elasticity, bread would not have the open texture we enjoy nor would bread be chewy. But what creates that elasticity? The endosperm of the wheat contains two important proteins, glutenin and gliadin. When wheat flour is mixed with water, these two proteins link with the water molecules and crosslink with each other as they are physically manipulated by kneading. It takes a certain amount of physical manipulation to bring these molecules into contact and create strong links. As the kneading continues and these molecules create stronger bonds, gluten is formed. It is gluten that gives the dough elasticity. If you watch the dough being mixed with the bread hook in your stationary mixer, you will see changes occur in the dough as the kneading takes place. First the dough will stick to the sides of the bowl. As the bonds become stronger and the dough more elastic, it pulls away from the sides into a drier ball. The sides should become clean. Within four or five minutes at medium speed, the dough will change even more and become elastic as the gluten is completely formed. After you have watched this process a few times, you will be able to recognize the changes in the dough as the gluten forms. If you pinch a portion of the dough and stretch it, it should pull to a thin layer before it breaks. Without that elasticity, bread isn't good bread. For more articles like this visit The Bakers' Library. © 2004 The Prepared Pantry
Related News
Festival offers flavour of modern Taiwan - Vancouver Sun
Chew on this! Tips on dorm cooking - MSNBC
Chew on this! Tips on dorm cookingMSNBC -Aug 21, 2008Cooking, however, required a piece of equipment that my university did not provide: an oven. I was shocked and dismayed to find that my dorm room was ... |
New Wii Cooking Game Test Your Multitasking Skills - NY1
As Gustav Heads for the Gulf of Mexico, The Hanover Insurance ... - CNNMoney.com (press release)
Try These 30 Expert Grilling Tips At Your Next Cookout - CattleNetwork.com
Local chefs serve up cooking tips on WMGM-TV 40 - Press of Atlantic City
Campfire cooking menu - Taste.com.au
Taste.com.au |
Campfire cooking menuTaste.com.au, Australia -Aug 24, 2008For campfire cooking instructions, look for the camping tips in the notes section of each recipe. Cooking times may vary according to the intensity of the ... |
Grant High teens learn healthy cooking tips - Sacramento Bee
Grant High teens learn healthy cooking tipsSacramento Bee, USA -Aug 2, 2008His cooking partner, Kheyland McNeil, 14, didn't object. After all, Marcellous said, "It's supposed to be a pizza." True. But the goal this day inside Grant ... |
Funny Or Die sites expand into cooking, video games - Encore
Visit Britain offers tips on home exchange - The Eureka Reporter
Visit Britain offers tips on home exchangeThe Eureka Reporter, CA -7 minutes agoSelf-catering apartments have full-service kitchens with cooking utensils so you can buy food at a local grocery store and cook your own meals. ... |
|
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Baking Bread and Your Freezer
There's a lot of bread in our freezer. In our exuberance, we often bake more bread than we can eat in a day or two. What isn't given away goes in the freezer.
Eating Healthy with a Meat Grinder
While it may be surprising, owning your own meat grinder can help you in your pursuit to live a healthier life. According to the USDA, the average American in 2000 consumed 300 more calories than the average American in 1985, a 12% increase, including a 24% increase of fat calories. The average daily fat intake was 81.4 grams and saturated fat intake was 27.9 grams in 2000 (ers.usda.gov/briefing/consumption). Americans are consuming too much fat, especially saturated fat.
Bread in the Woods
We really like fresh bread while we're camping. There is something about bread products that just seems especially good in the woods. Maybe it's the fresh air; maybe it's the appetites that we work up in the woods.
Garlic: A Quick Guide
Garlic, there's nothing like the smell of garlic. It's great in soups and sauces, roasted with meats or on it's own, and it's wonderful mixed with butter and slathered on bread and then baked.
Buying, Storing, and Preparing Apples
When buying apples, look for those that are firm and brightly colored. Shiny red for Macintosh, Rome and red Delicious. Clear green for Granny Smith and golden yellow for Delicious. Always avoid bruised apples. When an apple is damaged, the injured cells release polyphenoloxidase, an enzyme that hastens the oxidation of phenols in the apple, producing brownish pigments that darken the fruit. It's easy to check loose apples. If you buy them packed in a plastic bag, turn the bag upside down and examine the fruit.
How to Choose the Right Smoke for the Right BBQ Dish
BBQ smoke is one of the easiest ways to add a nice touch of flavor to a grilled dish. You'll be amazed at how many different flavors there are! Knowing which smoke is the best match for different BBQ flavors can be a challenge though. Here's a handy guide to help.
10 Convenient Ways To Eliminate Food Poisoning With Your Microwave
Microwave ovens can play an important role at mealtime, but
special care must be taken when cooking or reheating meat,
poultry, fish, and eggs to make sure they are prepared
safely. Microwave ovens can cook unevenly and leave "cold
spots," where harmful bacteria can survive. For this reason,
it is important to use the following safe microwaving tips
to prevent food-borne illness.
Foods That Freeze Well
"Can I freeze it?" is a question often asked in our homes, and for good reason. Probably most of us, at some point or another, have attempted to freeze a particular food only to find out that it did not freeze well and either spoiled or became inedible. Here are some foods that are "freezer-friendly"...
Seasoning An Oven
Untreated cast iron rusts, especially around water. To prevent metal from oxidizing in the presence of moisture, cast iron requires a process called ?seasoning?. Seasoning is simply the procedure of baking oil into the oven's pores, and on top of the iron pores. This baked on coating will darken and eventually turn black with age. Darkening is the sign of a well kept oven, and of it's use. This coating forms a barrier between moisture in the air and the surface of the metal. It also provides a non-stick coating on the inside of the oven that is easy to clean.
Reductions: Proving Less is More
Any liquid can be reduced just by heating it - but why would you want to do that?
Bacteria and Food-borne Diseases
Types of Bacteria
Two for One Dinners: Beef
If you find leftovers boring, uninviting or downright "yuck," then here are some ideas to put the "zing" back into mealtime. With a little creativity your home-cooked meal can easily become a delicious meal another night. There are a six articles in this series, today we are going to look at what you can do with beef.
Cooking -- What You Need To Know
From ancient times till the nineteenth century cooking was basically a survival skill. The nineteenth century marked the division of cooking into two main categories.
Rice Cookers - Perfect Rice Every Time
Love fluffy cooked rice but dislike the preparation time and clean up? Then rice cookers maybe just what you need. Today's rice cooker is a thrifty time saving device for anyone's kitchen. Also eating rice weekly has many health benefits. With so many rice cookers to choose from how does one decide? Let's take a look at the many features and sizes of a rice cooker and determine which is right for you and your family.
Better Baking Technique: Is it Done Yet?
Are my breads, cookies, or cakes baked and ready to come out of the oven yet?
Dutch Oven Cooking Basics
Pioneer Cooking
6 Tips for Perfect Homemade Hard Candy
There's nothing better than the juicy, flavorful hard candy from your local gourmet candy shop . . . unless you make it yourself, that is! Making perfect hard candy at home is easier than you think. You just need the right tools, a few simple ingredients, and your imagination.
10 Smart Shopping Tips To Protect Your Family From Getting Sick
Prevention of food poisoning starts with your trip to the
supermarket. Here's how to start off safely.
Moms Easy Cooking - Fast Meal Ideas For Busy Moms
Every busy mom worries about how to prepare fast, nutritious meals for her family. Working moms often find they have very little time for meal planning and preparation. After a long day at work, the last thing on your mind is spending an hour or more cooking and cleaning up afterwards. A little advance preparation and some creative menus are all you need to make mealtime less stressful. You will save a lot of time and energy if you plan an entire week's meals in advance, and do your shopping all in one trip instead of making several trips to the grocery store each week.
Making Homemade Pasta for Dinner Tonight
Homemade pasta cooked al dente (to the teeth), is a chewy and light treat. Here are the simple steps to making fresh pasta for dinner tonight.
|
