Artisan Bread 101: All About Proofing

Want to know the secret to freshly baked bread that is crisp on the outside and pillowy on the inside? The proof is in the bread!

An essential step after shaping the dough and before popping it in the oven, proper proofing gives your bread the perfect texture and flavor. The process of proofing allows the dough to rise and creates an airy texture after baking.

Proofing generally lasts an hour to a day, depending on the bread you’re making. Do keep a close watch on your dough as under or over proofing can make or break your dough. Below are some baker-approved ways to proof your dough:  

Proof at room temperature

A tried and tested method of proofing dough is in a glass bowl at room temperature. Gently place your dough in the bowl and cover with a damp paper towel or a cling wrap. Covering the bowl keeps the surface of the bread from drying out. 

You can also rub a tiny amount of oil onto your cling wrap to keep your dough from sticking on the bowl. 

Proof bread in the oven    

You’re probably wondering: “Won’t proofing in the oven start the baking process?”. Not when you keep the oven turned off! Most bakers proof their dough in the oven during colder seasons to help keep it at room temperature. 

Proof you dough in the oven by filling a glass baking dish with boiling water and placing it on the bottom rack of the oven. Place the dough on the middle rack, close the oven dough, and let the oven do its magic. Keep the oven door closed while proofing to avoid sudden changes in temperature.                             

Use a proofing basket

Supporting the dough as it proofs, the proofing basket comes in a variety of shapes: round, oval, or long. Proofing in a basket helps give your bread those rustic rings seen in artisanal breads. If you want a pattern-free, smooth surface, you can also line the basket with cloth.

The proofing basket keeps your dough from spreading and flattening as it rises. For bread basket kits that give you bang for your buck, Superbaking Bread Basket Kit is your baking buddy in a box. . Made from food-safe, quality materials, each kit comes with:

• 1 Banneton Basket
• Basic baking tools(metal dough scraper, plastic scraper, scoring lame, dough whisk, blade and lame case, liner cloth, plastic brush)
• Guide book

Always here for your baking needs, become a super baker today with Superbaking Bread Basket Kit. 

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