Cracked Crust

If you look on the top left side of this loaf (right below the white flower) you can see a large crack that formed after the loaf was removed from the oven (62 minutes at 525 degrees) and started to cool.

I have some good video/audio of these cracks happening, but it has some background noise so I'll work to capture it more clearly so I can post soon.

Enjoy some bread!
     -Matt

Definition of Perfection

"Define your own success" is some of the best advice I've received.  I define my baking success several ways, but obtaining the optimal crust is high on my list.

The challenge is simple - how to get the most caramelization on the top without burning the bottom.

 These baguettes I've cranked the bake time (at 525 F) from 35 to 40 minutes.

 You can see the bottom here (seam is always down) - no char.

 For my boule I cranked the time from 45 minutes to 65.

As you can see the bottoms are perfect, thanks to a nice layer of fine cornmeal (and parchment paper) in the bottom of the dutch oven.

A few good articles to read (thanks Rob!):

Could This Baker Solve the Gluten Mystery?

The Wheat Lowdown

And of-course the original no-knead article from 2006 that started the entire trend: Recipe: No-Knead Bread

Enjoy some bread!

   -Matt

Anyone can bake!

So in the 2007 Disney movie Ratatouille the fictional Chef Gusteau has a famous motto, "Anyone can cook."

I agree with the sentiment but I would phrase it as "Anyone can bake" - This is a photograph of a friend of mine's first loaf.  Amazing :)

  Enjoy some bread,

    -Matt

Baguettes from Shaping through Baking

Formed loaves

 Scored

 Baked - 38 min @ 525 degrees Fahrenheit

Sometimes I find a progression of photos tell an entire story with many words. :)

Enjoy some bread.

      -Matt

There are plenty of references out there talking about baking good bread.  After years and years of experimenting I am still working on solving all of the little mysteries I run across.

Normally my large loaves bake for about 45-48 minutes at 525 degrees.  This past week I went to 72 minutes with great results. Curious :)

Enjoy some good bread, you will be glad you did.

  -Matt