Proofing Bread

[helmstead]

I am making rolls to go with stew tonight. Normally in cold weather I proof them beside my wood stove - but it's not burning today.

I had a bright idea - I thought perhaps I could proof them on a heating pad?

Thoughts? Setting? hahaha

 

[BettyR]

Take a pan with some water and bring it to a boil...put the pan with the water in the oven on the lower rack and the bread on the upper rack shut the oven door and your good to go.

BTW don't put the bread directly over the pan.

 

[MissPrissy]

Quote:
I was just going to write that. LOL

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

I managed a Subway Sub Shop for 6 years - we had a machine called a Proofer - it was basically a warming machine with water trays in the bottom, that kept the humidity up so the bread would poof up nicely without forming that nasty dried crust if they don't have enough moisture.

All of Subway's bread comes frozen - they look like a stick when ya take em out. Then they put them in a "retarder" in the fridge overnight, and then the proofer the next day then once they proof, you bake them. The retarder keeps it a little warmer than the fridge, so they thaw, but not warm enough to proof.

I wish I had some Subway bread ovens and proofers here - would make it so much easier

ETA - the heat was ONLY under the water tray - no heat in the rest of the proofer, it just made warm steam. I posted that info to explain the whole pan of boiling water in the oven thing the others posted.

meri

 

[helmstead]

Quote:
I was just going to write that. LOL

Sounds good! Thanks!

 

[Fudgie]

It sounds like that proofer would make a good incubator!

 

[helmstead]

Like a charm! Thanks!

 

[BettyR]

Quote:
I was just going to write that. LOL

Great minds think alike!!!

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Quote:

it probably would. They would hold a lot of eggs, too.

meri

 

[miss_jayne]

when i proof my bread, i turn the oven light on and then turn the oven to warm for 20 seconds. (then turn back off)

put in bowl/pan whatever and leave just the light on. just warm enough to proof.

i don't know if you have a regular oven also, but that's how i do it.


eta turn oven back off, duh!