Hubby wants to make soda bread HELP

finc

Buttermilk is half price in Asda at the moment at 28p per tub. It's just less than the 1/2 pint/290ml needed but I just top up with milk.

Redrose

Thanks for all your replys, helpful has ever, did managed to find a receipe for BM, turned out just great....

Don;t know how to post the link sorry....

Smashing

Redrose wrote:

Don;t know how to post the link sorry....

Click the little globe thing at the top of the reply box and paste the website URL into the box that pops up. Click ok and Robert's your mother's brother.

SnowyOwl_2

I made some soda bread this evening following Pink-Winged's instructions. I think I got the dough OK, but when I went to bake it it turned out dreadful. They were still raw in the middle but black on the outside. I cut them in half again and tried to balance them out that way, but they all have to hit the bin.

I think it's the baking temp I got wrong...how do you know when the frying pan is at the correct heat? Are you supposed to put some oil or something into the pan? Can you please advise, Pink or anyone else...

I'm a v.disappointed SnowyOwl tonight...I was hoping for lovely soft fluffy soda bread for breakfast:(.

Pink.

Oh snowy, I'm sorry and so disappointed for you. I cook mine on either on number two or three on an electric hob. The only thing I can think of would be to turn the heat down a little. Definitely don't add oil or they'll fry rather than bake.

I feel so bad now that I'm tempted to make some and drive down with it for your breakfast.

Pink

SnowyOwl_2

Pink-winged wrote:

Oh snowy, I'm sorry and so disappointed for you. I cook mine on either on number two or three on an electric hob. The only thing I can think of would be to turn the heat down a little. Definitely don't add oil or they'll fry rather than bake.

I feel so bad now that I'm tempted to make some and drive down with it for your breakfast.

Pink

Thank you Pink! Don't worry, I made a Weetabix Cake as well and that came out perfect - you don't have to drive all the way down here just for me - have a lie in instead!!

I'll try again tomorrow using my other frying pan, but will keep the heat down a bit. My hob is gas so it's a judgement thing to try and work out the temperature. I had the flame at about half way between just about on and full blast thinking this would give a middle heat. That must have been wrong!

The optomist in me says give the frying pan an overnight soak with soda crystals, but my heart and head both say the pan is going to be keeping the binned soda breads company:rotfl:.

Pink.

OMG I've wrecked your frying pan as well? :eek:

Pink, who wants to crawl into a hole and die

meadowcat

SnowyOwl wrote:

I made some soda bread this evening following Pink-Winged's instructions. I think I got the dough OK, but when I went to bake it it turned out dreadful. They were still raw in the middle but black on the outside. I cut them in half again and tried to balance them out that way, but they all have to hit the bin.

I think it's the baking temp I got wrong...how do you know when the frying pan is at the correct heat? Are you supposed to put some oil or something into the pan? Can you please advise, Pink or anyone else...

I'm a v.disappointed SnowyOwl tonight...I was hoping for lovely soft fluffy soda bread for breakfast:(.

Snowy Owl, you coat the pan with flour. I use a very very old electric frying pan and I put the temp at 350. If you don't have one of these, you can judge the temp by the length of time it takes the coating of flour to brown. Never really timed it, but probably two or three minutes. Also, you should mix very lightly, do not knead, and put on the pan/griddle immediately.

They only need about 7 minutes each side, so if they are browning quicker than than, then the temp is too high. My mum always stood them on each of the three sides for a minute or two.

I've always found that the soda bread flour is best. Widely available in N.I., but don't know about across the water.

Sometimes they can seem a bit "doughy" in the middle when just cooked. They should be wrapped in a clean tea cloth to cool down as this keeps the outside soft. Delicious hot with butter dripping, but equally delicious the next day.

Churchmouse

Pink-winged wrote:

OMG I've wrecked your frying pan as well? :eek:

Pink, who wants to crawl into a hole and die

If it would make you feel better Pink-winged, you can deliver breakfast, (complete with the soda bread I never got in Dublin last year ) to me!!!:D

SnowyOwl_2

Pink-winged wrote:

OMG I've wrecked your frying pan as well? :eek:

Pink, who wants to crawl into a hole and die

:rotfl::rotfl:Noo no no Pink, it was all my own doing!! Please don't crawl into any holes...

MeadowCat - thanks for letting me know about coating the pan with flour, I'll do that tomorrow. My mother used to have one of those electric frying pans, I remember her making soda bread with it, though the outsides were always very chewy...guess we're not really the most talented family when it comes to making bread. I'm over this side of the water, down near Newry so can pick up some soda bread flour very easily.

Aw poor Churchmouse, you must have been so disappointed not getting your soda bread, you poor little Mouselet...