Bread cloches are baking equipment that holds both dough and the steam rising from the dough. These pieces of bread baking equipment must be able to tolerate a tremendous amount of internal humidity, external and internal heat. In other words, you’re looking at very durable baking equipment. One key factor in ensuring that you are using the right bread cloches, or you’re using them the right way is steam. Steam is the main reason why there are even bread cloches to begin with. Bread cloches were invented for their ability to handle steam.
Steam produces moisture required for making the right kind of crust
Why do people use bread cloches in the first place? Can’t they just use a traditional baking pan or other baking trays? The reason for these is that bread cloches enclosed the dough. They provide a sealed dome in which steam from the moisture in the liquid ingredients of the dough can escape. Steam is important because this produces a very moist exterior for the dough. As the heat increases, the steamed outer part of the dough becomes crustier than the internal parts of the bread. There are many different bread recipes that require a very crusty outer exterior. These types of bread are great for soups or any kind of dish that has a lot of sauce. If you prepare casseroles or stews, there’s nothing like a nice hunk of crusty bread to sop up some extra juices. It really is a great way to enjoy your meal. This is especially true if you appreciate a nice, hot bowl of clam chowder. Steam is crucial to proper operation of bread cloches.
There has to be enough steam and it has to remain long enough in the baking chamber for it to work its magic on the outer layers of the bread. This is quite a sensitive and imprecise operation and that’s why-for the longest time-producing super crusty bread was a hit or miss affair. Imagine the amazement of people when they were able to finally get reliably crusty bread on a consistent basis thanks to the invention of bread cloches. That’s how crucial these pieces of bakeware are. They play a significant and important role in baking the right types of bread from a bread machine.
Normally, steam escapes very easily
It’s very easy to see why bread cloches needed to be invented. If you’re using a typical open bread pan, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist or a genius to see that the dough quickly releases its moisture, and the steam is very brief because it is completely evaporated by the extreme heat inside the oven. The steam must be preserved for it to work its magic on the exterior of the bread you are baking. It has to be trapped long enough for it to produce that extra steamed bread exterior which the remaining heat will turn into a thick crust after the steam disappears.
The secret to a great bread cloche
The secret to a great bread cloche is actually not a mystery. The secret is proper steam handling. The right bread cloches must be designed in such a way that the steam gets to where it needs to go. The steam has to do a proper job of steaming up the outer skin of the dough so you can get a nice, crusty hunk of bread each and every time you use your bread cloches. This is not always guaranteed. It all depends on the design of the bread cloches you are using.
The right bread cloches also handle the heat the right way
It’s one thing to handle steam. It’s another to handle the heat. The right bread cloches must also do a great job of handling the heat the right way. It cannot let in the heat too quickly nor can it take too long for the heat to enter its chamber. The heat has to rise at exactly the right time so you can produce the right crusty texture over time and again. The bread baking process, just in case you’re unaware, is a very fragile choreography. There’s a tremendous amount of chemistry and heat management involved. This is why you need the right equipment. The best bread cloches can definitely help you get the right bread texture on a consistent basis.
Handling is also crucial
You would not want a very heavy bread cloche. Those can be safety hazards. You want something that’s reasonably light and easy to handle while being able to manage the steam required by your crusty bread recipes.
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