Good baking asks us to look a little closer. Not at complicated tricks, but at the ordinary decisions that shape flavor, texture and how a loaf feels in the hand.
A humid start helps the loaf expand before its exterior sets. Preheat the oven thoroughly.
Start with the dough, not the clock.
A humid start helps the loaf expand before its exterior sets. This is the kind of bake that becomes easier when you take note of a few dependable cues instead of adding another elaborate technique.
Things to pay attention to
- 01
Preheat the oven thoroughly.
- 02
Use a covered pot or appropriate steam setup.
- 03
Vent later in the bake for color.
- 04
Let the crust cool before storing..
The detail that matters
Take care when releasing hot steam and opening a preheated Dutch oven.
Every oven and every bag of flour behaves a little differently. Write down what you noticed and adjust one variable at a time on the next bake.
Keep practicing.
Keep the notes that matter, leave room for discovery, and bake it again when you have time.
