Quick questions on bread making

Hell_Dans_Un_Handcart

Oops - meant to say Tesco, not Waitrose. It's much cheaper there.

JennyW_2

becky2812 wrote: »

well i tried again last night, and did 50/50 wholemeal and white flour, and reduced the water by 20ml.. it still sank!!!!!

i can't fault the taste though, it was a gorgoeus tasting and incredibly soft inside, loaf of bread!!!

so i still can't seem to get a wholemeal loaf to form properly!!!

aslo, this is probably a silly question with an obvious answer, but when i first bake the bread it is lovely and cursty on the outside, once it is totally cooled, i store it in an airtight bag (air squeezed out), and the next morning it is a soft loaf?? how do i keep it crusty without making it stale?
thak you!

what flour are you using? Different brands can make a big different. I don't get very good results with Hovis. My bread comes out perfect every time, I'm confident enough now to make loaves for other people. What machine do you have?

As for storing your bread - NEVER wrap it in a bag. The bread will sweat and it will go soft. Best to let it cool, cut it and store what you require in a lock-n-lock box -they're fab. You can freeze the rest. I never bag mine.

Lesley_Gaye

Hell_Dans_Un_Handcart wrote: »

Oops - meant to say Tesco, not Waitrose. It's much cheaper there.

OK, thanks Hell Dans Un Handcart, there is a Tesco near me, a little one, but it might have it. Otherwise, I'll go to the nearest big one and stock up.

veggielorna

Just lately the loaves coming out of my bread maker (cookworks) have sunk in the middle - can anyone shed some light on this - it's driving me mad as it rises beautifully then sinks in the middle making the top outside edge hang over the pan and burn :mad:

I have tried Allisons Flour, Doves Organic, Co-op's own, Tesco Own all do the same thing - I also tried using different yeasts Hovis, Allisons and shops own still the same thing happens.

Any advice truely appreciated.

Ishtar

You could try reducing the yeast a little - perhaps with the warmer weather it's gone into 'overdrive' and the structure of the dough isn't strong enough and collapses. either that, or try reducing the water slightly.

I used to have this problem with my old BM in the summer.

HTH
D.

JennyW_2

veggielorna wrote: »

Just lately the loaves coming out of my bread maker (cookworks) have sunk in the middle - can anyone shed some light on this - it's driving me mad as it rises beautifully then sinks in the middle making the top outside edge hang over the pan and burn :mad:

I have tried Allisons Flour, Doves Organic, Co-op's own, Tesco Own all do the same thing - I also tried using different yeasts Hovis, Allisons and shops own still the same thing happens.

Any advice truely appreciated.

Could be too much water - I always use 20ml less in my recipes. Failing that then try another flour. I had problems for a while and the Panasonic Help line are advised Waitrose organic (and are still recommending it). In some flours the gluten isn't strong enough to hold the rise, hence it falls. Might be worth trying.

chrisico

I have been using my panny for about 4 years and have always been pleased with Lidl bread flour until now. The packaging has changed and it seems that the flour is very inferior and the great big airy loaves are just a dim and distant memory. I've changed to a new pack of yeast and made sure I was following the recipe exactly and the loaves are small and mean looking.

Has anyone else noticed this or is it just me?

Chrisico

thriftychick

I've been using Lidl bread flour for a while now and been very pleased with it, its the only one that is consistently good. I still have a couple of bags so won't be buying any more until next week. I really hope it hasn't changed as everything else I've tried turns out sunken and crumbly.

anniewoo

I have also been using Lidl bread flour for a while now and I am happy with the results,but when I bought a new bag this morning,I noticed that the packaging had changed.I hope that it is still the same quality flour.

snow

I bought two bags last week, did not notice any changes, baked three times since then, no probs!