Baking stones are a fantastic tool for making bread or other baked goods with Bucket of Bread brand doughs. They help to create a crispy crust on bread, as well as evenly distribute heat to the loaf while it is baking. Here are a few tips for using a baking stone to achieve the best results:
Preheat the stone: Before you begin baking your bread, place the baking stone in the oven and preheat it to the desired temperature. This is an important step because it ensures the bread is baked evenly. Bread may bake unevenly when you don’t preheat the stone. This means your dough can be either under or over-cooked,
Dust the stone with cornmeal: To prevent the bread from sticking to the baking stone, sprinkle a little cornmeal on the surface of the stone before placing the dough on it. This will create a non-stick surface that will help to keep the bread from sticking.
Use a pizza peel: A pizza peel is a long, flat paddle. Bakers use these to slide the bread dough onto the baking stone. It makes it easier to transfer the bread to the hot stone without burning yourself. Simply place the dough on the peel, and then use it to carefully slide the dough onto the baking stone.
Create steam in the oven: To achieve a crispy crust on the bread, it is important to create steam in the oven while the bread is baking. One way to do this is to place a pan of water on the bottom shelf of the oven. As the water heats up, it will create steam, which will help to create a crispy crust on the bread. (Some may find this debatable).
Allow the bread to cool: Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool on a wire rack after it is done baking. This will help to prevent the bread from becoming soggy as it cools. Allowing the bread to cool on a wire rack also helps to improve its texture and flavor, as it allows air to circulate around the bread and helps to prevent it from becoming too moist.
In summary, these are a great tool for making bread with Bucket of Bread brand doughs. By following these simple tips, you can achieve delicious, perfectly baked breads every time!
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