I have a question about step 2 on the recipe "Soft and Chewy Oatmeal Bread" from WinnieAb. It says:
"As you add the remaining 4 cups of flour (more or less), the mixture will become too difficult to stir by hand, so you can either mix it in Kitchen Aid mixer with the bread dough hook, or you can use your hands to knead in the flour in the bowl. When most of the flour has been incorporated and the dough is no longer sticky, transfer it to a floured surface."
I have used 1/2 bread flour and 1/2 whole spelt and have even added an extra cup of spelt, but this dough is far too wet and sticky to knead. Suggestions? I put the Kitchenaid mixing bowl in the fridge for the moment.
I haven't made this recipe, so I can't be sure, but I would guess that it has something to do with not using the type of flour that the recipe calls for (whole wheat flour or unbleached) and there for the recipe behaving differently. Have you added the full 6 cups?
I think thy after giving the dough a good rest so the whole grain flour can get good and hydrated, I should pop it back on the stand mixer for 10-20 minutes. If anyone has different advice I am all ears!
I would let it rest at room temperature for up to an hour -- depending on the humidity and temperature of your kitchen, full dough hydration can take a very long time.
Spelt flour may also be a cause of your troubles -- it develops gluten and absorbs moisture differently from all-purpose flour. If your dough is still sticky after resting, I would advise adding extra all-purpose flour instead of spelt flour.
The rest period (called an autolyse) will help. But the root of the problem is that spelt flour is lower in protein than bread flour or WWF. Protein molecules are long and complicated, and part of what the kneading process does is extend them so that they take up the available water. The problem is that you have too much water for the amount of protein you have, even taking into consideration the WWF that you used. I'd suggest starting with an additional 1/2 cup of WWF, and add more if necessary. Persevere!
I haven't made this recipe, but I have been making breads for more than 50 years. The amount of flour specified in bread recipes is never exact. If your bread is too sticky, add more flour, 1/2 cup at a time until you get a kneadable dough.
There are so many variables that can precipitate the need for more (or even sometimes less!) flour in any bread recipe: humidity of the house, age of the flour, how it's been stored, etc, etc.)
Miranda is an editor at Food52.
added 3 months agoI haven't made this recipe, so I can't be sure, but I would guess that it has something to do with not using the type of flour that the recipe calls for (whole wheat flour or unbleached) and there for the recipe behaving differently. Have you added the full 6 cups?
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I have added 7 cups to the sponge and it is still wet and sticky and not forming a ball.
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I think thy after giving the dough a good rest so the whole grain flour can get good and hydrated, I should pop it back on the stand mixer for 10-20 minutes. If anyone has different advice I am all ears!
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It is still wet and sticky and has gone back into the fridge for now.
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Nozlee is the Assistant Editor of Food52.
added 3 months agoI would let it rest at room temperature for up to an hour -- depending on the humidity and temperature of your kitchen, full dough hydration can take a very long time.
Spelt flour may also be a cause of your troubles -- it develops gluten and absorbs moisture differently from all-purpose flour. If your dough is still sticky after resting, I would advise adding extra all-purpose flour instead of spelt flour.
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The rest period (called an autolyse) will help. But the root of the problem is that spelt flour is lower in protein than bread flour or WWF. Protein molecules are long and complicated, and part of what the kneading process does is extend them so that they take up the available water. The problem is that you have too much water for the amount of protein you have, even taking into consideration the WWF that you used. I'd suggest starting with an additional 1/2 cup of WWF, and add more if necessary. Persevere!
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keep adding whole wheat flour, worst case scenario is you end up with an extra loaf. Boulangere is right on though about the proteins.
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I am out of whole wheat flour, so I added strong bread flour an hour ago and it has been resting and rising since. It is still tacky buy not wet.
Should I treat this as the first rise, or knock it back and knead it some more?
Thank you so much for the suggestions!
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Sorry for the typos - iPhone auto-correct...
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Good idea to go to BF. Just proceed as usual and let that be your 1st rise.
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I haven't made this recipe, but I have been making breads for more than 50 years. The amount of flour specified in bread recipes is never exact. If your bread is too sticky, add more flour, 1/2 cup at a time until you get a kneadable dough.
There are so many variables that can precipitate the need for more (or even sometimes less!) flour in any bread recipe: humidity of the house, age of the flour, how it's been stored, etc, etc.)
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