Any Home Bakers Here?

[R2elk]

We had snow of all things most of gone today but more for tomorrow

5 ½" yesterday. Almost all of it has melted.

 

[Blooie]

One positive thing, at least.

Tomorrow I'll make a loaf of my GF machine bread to take to a friend on Wednesday. I knew she had some dietary issues, but didn't know she was GF. She doesn't bake, so bread is a rare treat, at about $6 a loaf at the store.

What is the purpose of the clay baker? Is it like using a Dutch oven, but it's bread size and shaped? I've never seen one before.

Clay bakers are among the world’s earliest cooking vessels. In modern cooking they most closely duplicate baking in a clay or brick oven. In many recipes, the clay lid is soaked in water for between 20-30 minutes and then the food is placed in the bottom part, the lid put on, and the baker is placed in a cold oven. The oven is then turned on and the baker, the oven, and the food heat up together. Unglazed bottom parts are usually soaked as well, while generally those with glazed bottoms are not. Either way, as the food cooks (or bakes) it’s actually being cooked with the steam that is released from the porous, clay cover.

They are ideal for baking breads. I don’t soak the lid before baking bread because there’s enough steam released from the bread dough. But I’ve already cooked a pork tenderloin with veggies in mine, which is glazed on the bottom, and I did soak the lid. There’s no need to add liquids or fats to the baker, although I’ve found a few recipes so far that do call for some. The food cooks in steam and its own juices. When I baked the bread today, I used a lower oven temp of 475 rather than the Dutch Oven 500 degrees, and only preheated the oven and baker for 30 minutes.

Clay bakers can be round or oval, and come in lots of sizes. What I really want is a good, original Romertopf in the 4 quart size, but the budget says not right now. I can see me using clay bakers for a long, long time!! Wish I hadn’t been 71 before I splurged on one. My German grandmother had 2 very large ones, and at almost every meal usually both of them were side by side in the wood fired oven in her kitchen. She was cooking for 13 of her children and her and Grampa, so the bakers were never “put away”.

 

[Aria]

Clay bakers are worth the cost. Very useful. Really
enjoy mine. Got mine years ago at an Estate Sale.

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Bakers good morning one and all!

The temperature is 61 and mostly cloudy.

Have a great day!

 

[bruceha2000]

I just hate having to wrestle the crust for it!

I bet Ken does too, at least right now.

 

[Aria]

50 degrees and Cloudy...forecast 60 today and 74 projected for tomorrow Wednesday.

 

[R2elk]

5 ½" yesterday. Almost all of it has melted.

1 1/4" of fresh snow so far this morning.

Lots of tomato blossoms in the greenhouse and living room.

 

[Ladies-Eight]

50 degrees and Cloudy...forecast 60 today and 74 projected for tomorrow Wednesday.

Your temperature is coming right on up, GREAT.

 

[Aria]

YES...Will Welcome Spring.

 

[jnicholes]

1 1/4" of fresh snow so far this morning.

Lots of tomato blossoms in the greenhouse and living room.

I’ve always wanted a greenhouse. Do you keep yours heated throughout winter?