How To Use A Bread Proofing Basket Like A Pro

Baking homemade bread isn't as arduous a task as some may think, but it does require using some niche instruments if you want it to come out right. One piece of equipment needed is a bread proofing basket. These bowls come in all shapes and sizes to accommodate just about any form you want. Without one, your loaf may not rise to the height you are looking for. To find out how to use one correctly, we sought the advice of a professional.

Pizza and bread-making expert Nicole Bean shared what she's learned about using a bread proofing basket in her time as owner and operator of two pizzeria locations in Houston called Pizaro's Pizza Napoletana. She notes that one of the primary concerns with employing this essential tool is dough sticking to the sides once risen. Bean said, "With proofing baskets, it's extremely important to use a bread towel or canvas cloth to line the basket and always dust the basket and the dough with flour to ensure that the dough does not stick once it's proofed."

Dough sticking to the sides of the basket will be challenging to remove, and once you get it out, the pristine, uniform structure will be ruined. While some may think they can avoid this hassle by letting it leaven on the kitchen counter, this would be a mistake. A bread proofing basket doesn't have to be anything fancy, but it is necessary.

Sometimes referred to as bannetons or brotforms, bread proofing baskets can be purchased anywhere that sells culinary accessories. If you don't want to shell out any money for one, you can even use a regular bowl from your cupboard as long as it's big enough to accommodate the dough as it rises. However you get your hands on one, it is necessary. Bean said, "If you are hand mixing dough, you will always need a proofing basket."

Without a container of some kind, your dough will spread and flatten when it should be climbing toward the sky, and there is an alternate device that will get the job done. Bean noted, "In the case of a bread machine, most of that proofing will take place inside." If you avoid mistakes when using a bread machine, it will suffice as your proofing instrument.

Even if you know how to level up your homemade bread by using peach skins to infuse the water before mixing the dough or adding some oil for an upgraded texture, it needs to proof correctly. If it doesn't, you might end up with something that resembles more of a pancake than fresh bread. Utilizing the right tools for any job is paramount to accomplishing your desired goals, and a bread proofing basket – while not the most extravagant apparatus by any means – is the best way to make sure your dough expands into the shape of the glorious loaf you want.