Baking worksheet
S1-C1: Lean wheat baseline (direct dough)
The sheet is built on facts from S1-C1 #2 on 29 Apr, but now corrects the target bulk endpoint: stop closer to +60–80% rather than dragging to +100%, and record the dough state. Historical times are kept in the research block below, while the working steps read as windows by dough state.
Technical summary
- Course code
- S1-C1 — entry control for the lean artisan wheat track
- Lesson theory
- direct dough, baker's percentages, dough temperature, bulk fermentation, final proof, and basic flavor diagnosis without a preferment
- Process theory
- in a direct dough every process starts at once: hydration, gluten, yeast, enzymes, gas, and the future crust; that is why S1-C1 is needed as a clean control line
- Formula
- 400 g flour, 260 g water, 8 g salt, 3 g fresh yeast; dough about 671 g
- Repeat conclusion
- S1-C1 #2 confirmed the working technology of the baseline direct dough but did not improve flavor compared to the first version
- Control schedule
- mix, rest, bulk fermentation, shape, final proof, bake, and cool should all be tied to dough state, not the clock alone
- Temperature control
- target dough temperature after mixing 24–25 °C, upper limit 26 °C; doneness checked with a probe
- Weight-loss control
- weighing the loaf before and after baking is useful for comparing crust, moisture, and repeatability
- Tasting
- flavor is the same as S1-C1 #1; the score remains 2/10
- Sensory
- S1-C1 is a 2/10 baseline: record crust aroma, crumb aroma, salt, rubberiness, coarseness, and aftertaste separately
- Mixing
- Kenwood KVC85.004SI: water + yeast 1 min, flour 1–2 min on Min, 15 min rest, then salt and speed 1 for 4–5 min
- Dough temperature
- target 24–25 °C, upper limit 26 °C
- Bulk fermentation
- no mandatory folds; end by sample jar +60–80%, dough rounded, small bubbles on the sides
- Final proof
- linen-lined basket; 90–140 min at about 23 °C; do not use Haier 35 °C
- Bake
- 230 °C with steam at loading and 2–3 min later, then 210 °C dry after 8 min to 96–98 °C internal
S1-C1: working sheet for the next control repeat
Pick a starting style. The schedule and timers will update.
Enter the time of the 'Mix start' step; setup will recalculate 15 minutes earlier.
Parallel steps: this step runs alongside the previous one. Watch both timers.
- Timer to next step: 15 min
Prepare scale, probe thermometer, linen-lined basket, narrow jar with mark, and water at 18–21 °C.
Step ingredients
- New ingredients
- none added; only prepare and weigh ingredients
- Target
- All ingredients weighed separately; kitchen, flour, and water temperatures recorded.
- Check
- Do not change the formula when the kitchen is around 23 °C.
- Evidence
- Kitchen, flour, and water temperatures.
- Timer to next step: 4 min
Combine all water and yeast, stir 1 minute. Add all flour and mix 1–2 minutes on Min until hydrated.
Step ingredients
- Water
- 260 g
- Fresh yeast
- 3 g
- Strong white bread flour
- 400 g
- Target
- Flour fully hydrated; do not expect smoothness yet.
- Check
- Do not add salt yet.
- Evidence
- Start time, mix duration, dough state.
- Timer to next step: 15 min
Cover the bowl and leave the dough for 15 minutes. Add nothing.
Step ingredients
- Dough without salt
- all of it
- Target
- Flour absorbs water; the next mixing step should go smoother.
- Check
- Do not shorten the rest without a reason.
- Evidence
- Actual rest duration.
- Timer to next step: 6 min
Add all salt and mix on speed 1 for about 4–5 minutes. Check every minute.
Step ingredients
- Salt
- 8 g
- Dough after rest
- all of it
- Target
- Smooth extensible dough; temperature not above 26 °C.
- Check
- If the dough spreads, do not add flour; record the fact.
- Evidence
- Dough temperature, dough state.
- Timer to next step: 4 min Base: 23 °C. Baseline is 23 °C. Dough readiness still decides the bake.
Take a dough photo, separate 20–25 g into a narrow jar, and mark the starting level.
Step ingredients
- Dough
- about 671 g total; after the sample the main batch is around 646–651 g
- Target
- Control sample pressed to the bottom of the jar; main dough covered.
- Check
- Record sample mass if separated.
- Timer to next step: 1 h 30 min Base: 23 °C. Baseline is 23 °C. Dough readiness still decides the bake.
Do not develop the dough with folds: Kenwood already did the main mixing. Keep covered and watch rise, rounding, and bubbles.
Step ingredients
- Main dough
- all of it after the sample was separated
- Target
- Dough holds gas, gradually rounds, and does not spread into a flowing mass.
- Check
- If the dough is weak, record it as a signal to adjust Kenwood mix duration on the next repeat.
- Evidence
- Surface state, sample-jar growth.
- Timer to next step: 10 min Base: 23 °C. Baseline is 23 °C. Dough readiness still decides the bake.
Check the control sample and the main dough. This is not a required doneness point.
Step ingredients
- Main dough
- all of it
- Control sample
- 20–25 g in the jar
- Target
- Assess dynamics, but do not end bulk fermentation by time alone.
- Check
- Real doneness comes later: jar +60–80%, dough rounded, holds gas, small bubbles on the sides.
- Evidence
- Growth in percent.
- Timer to next step: 30 min Base: 23 °C. Baseline is 23 °C. Dough readiness still decides the bake.
End bulk when the control sample has risen 60–80% and the main dough is rounded and holds gas. The historical 11:34 endpoint was an upper bound near +100%, not a new target.
Step ingredients
- Main dough
- all of it
- Control sample
- used only to assess growth
- Target
- Doneness by state, not by schedule.
- Check
- If signs are absent, check every 15–20 minutes.
- Evidence
- Bulk-end time, sample growth.
- Timer to next step: 10 min Base: 23 °C. Baseline is 23 °C. Dough readiness still decides the bake.
Gently gather the dough into a short oval or ball, seam down. Cover and rest 10–15 minutes.
Step ingredients
- Dough after bulk fermentation
- all of the main batch
- Bench flour
- minimal, only to prevent sticking
- Target
- Dough gathered without squeezing out all the gas.
- Check
- Use minimal flour, only if the dough really sticks to the bench.
- Evidence
- Time and state after rest.
- Timer to next step: 10 min
Shape a batard: rectangle, top third to center, side edges in, tight roll, pinch the seam closed. Place in the basket seam up.
Step ingredients
- Rested piece
- 1 piece
- Linen-lined basket
- 1 piece
- Target
- Smooth taut surface, no rough degassing.
- Check
- Linen-lined basket; smooth side to the cloth.
- Timer to next step: 1 h in parallel with the previous step — watch both
Set 230 °C, top-bottom heat, no fan. Heat stones 45–60 min after temperature is reached.
Step ingredients
- New ingredients
- none added
- Stones
- heated in the oven
- Target
- Stones heated through to the loading window.
- Check
- Do not wait until the end of proofing to start preheat.
- Evidence
- Oven-on time.
- Parallel with previous stepTimer to next step: 10 min in parallel with the previous step — watch both
Check the proof: the piece feels lighter, the poke test returns slowly and does not collapse. Weigh the piece before the oven.
Step ingredients
- Piece in the basket
- 1 piece
- New ingredients
- none added
- Target
- Loadable piece that is still convex after turning out.
- Check
- After turning out, do not wait on the bench: score and load immediately.
- Evidence
- Piece mass, description of the poke test.
- Timer to next step: 25 min
Turn out of the basket, score 5–8 mm at 30–45°, and load. 230 °C with steam at loading and again 2–3 minutes later; after 8 minutes drop to 210 °C and bake dry.
Step ingredients
- Proofed piece
- 1 piece
- Water for steam
- for steam, not part of the formula
- Target
- 96–98 °C internal.
- Check
- Check with the probe from minute 25.
- Evidence
- Loading time, internal temperature, crust photo.
- Timer to next step: 1 h
Cool on a rack at least 1 hour, then slice.
Step ingredients
- Finished loaf
- 1 loaf after baking
- New ingredients
- none added
- Target
- Tasting after cooling.
- Check
- Record weight loss: piece mass minus finished loaf mass.
- Evidence
- Mass, tasting note.
Enter the time of the 'Mix start' step; setup will recalculate 15 minutes earlier.
Parallel steps: this step runs alongside the previous one. Watch both timers.
- Timer to next step: 15 min
Prepare scale, probe thermometer, linen-lined basket, narrow jar with mark, and water at 18–21 °C.
Step ingredients
- New ingredients
- none added; only prepare and weigh ingredients
- Target
- All ingredients weighed separately; kitchen, flour, and water temperatures recorded.
- Check
- Do not change the formula when the kitchen is around 23 °C.
- Evidence
- Kitchen, flour, and water temperatures.
- Timer to next step: 4 min
Combine all water and yeast, stir 1 minute. Add all flour and mix 1–2 minutes on Min until hydrated.
Step ingredients
- Water
- 260 g
- Fresh yeast
- 3 g
- Strong white bread flour
- 400 g
- Target
- Flour fully hydrated; do not expect smoothness yet.
- Check
- Do not add salt yet.
- Evidence
- Start time, mix duration, dough state.
- Timer to next step: 15 min
Cover the bowl and leave the dough for 15 minutes. Add nothing.
Step ingredients
- Dough without salt
- all of it
- Target
- Flour absorbs water; the next mixing step should go smoother.
- Check
- Do not shorten the rest without a reason.
- Evidence
- Actual rest duration.
- Timer to next step: 6 min
Add all salt and mix on speed 1 for about 4–5 minutes. Check every minute.
Step ingredients
- Salt
- 8 g
- Dough after rest
- all of it
- Target
- Smooth extensible dough; temperature not above 26 °C.
- Check
- If the dough spreads, do not add flour; record the fact.
- Evidence
- Dough temperature, dough state.
- Timer to next step: 4 min Base: 23 °C. Baseline is 23 °C. Dough readiness still decides the bake.
Take a dough photo, separate 20–25 g into a narrow jar, and mark the starting level.
Step ingredients
- Dough
- about 671 g total; after the sample the main batch is around 646–651 g
- Target
- Control sample pressed to the bottom of the jar; main dough covered.
- Check
- Record sample mass if separated.
- Timer to next step: 1 h 30 min Base: 23 °C. Baseline is 23 °C. Dough readiness still decides the bake.
Do not develop the dough with folds: Kenwood already did the main mixing. Keep covered and watch rise, rounding, and bubbles.
Step ingredients
- Main dough
- all of it after the sample was separated
- Target
- Dough holds gas, gradually rounds, and does not spread into a flowing mass.
- Check
- If the dough is weak, record it as a signal to adjust Kenwood mix duration on the next repeat.
- Evidence
- Surface state, sample-jar growth.
- Timer to next step: 10 min Base: 23 °C. Baseline is 23 °C. Dough readiness still decides the bake.
Check the control sample and the main dough. This is not a required doneness point.
Step ingredients
- Main dough
- all of it
- Control sample
- 20–25 g in the jar
- Target
- Assess dynamics, but do not end bulk fermentation by time alone.
- Check
- Real doneness comes later: jar +60–80%, dough rounded, holds gas, small bubbles on the sides.
- Evidence
- Growth in percent.
- Timer to next step: 30 min Base: 23 °C. Baseline is 23 °C. Dough readiness still decides the bake.
End bulk when the control sample has risen 60–80% and the main dough is rounded and holds gas. The historical 11:34 endpoint was an upper bound near +100%, not a new target.
Step ingredients
- Main dough
- all of it
- Control sample
- used only to assess growth
- Target
- Doneness by state, not by schedule.
- Check
- If signs are absent, check every 15–20 minutes.
- Evidence
- Bulk-end time, sample growth.
- Timer to next step: 10 min Base: 23 °C. Baseline is 23 °C. Dough readiness still decides the bake.
Gently gather the dough into a short oval or ball, seam down. Cover and rest 10–15 minutes.
Step ingredients
- Dough after bulk fermentation
- all of the main batch
- Bench flour
- minimal, only to prevent sticking
- Target
- Dough gathered without squeezing out all the gas.
- Check
- Use minimal flour, only if the dough really sticks to the bench.
- Evidence
- Time and state after rest.
- Timer to next step: 10 min
Shape a batard: rectangle, top third to center, side edges in, tight roll, pinch the seam closed. Place in the basket seam up.
Step ingredients
- Rested piece
- 1 piece
- Linen-lined basket
- 1 piece
- Target
- Smooth taut surface, no rough degassing.
- Check
- Linen-lined basket; smooth side to the cloth.
- Timer to next step: 1 h in parallel with the previous step — watch both
Set 230 °C, top-bottom heat, no fan. Heat stones 45–60 min after temperature is reached.
Step ingredients
- New ingredients
- none added
- Stones
- heated in the oven
- Target
- Stones heated through to the loading window.
- Check
- Do not wait until the end of proofing to start preheat.
- Evidence
- Oven-on time.
- Parallel with previous stepTimer to next step: 10 min in parallel with the previous step — watch both
Check the proof: the piece feels lighter, the poke test returns slowly and does not collapse. Weigh the piece before the oven.
Step ingredients
- Piece in the basket
- 1 piece
- New ingredients
- none added
- Target
- Loadable piece that is still convex after turning out.
- Check
- After turning out, do not wait on the bench: score and load immediately.
- Evidence
- Piece mass, description of the poke test.
- Timer to next step: 25 min
Turn out of the basket, score 5–8 mm at 30–45°, and load. 230 °C with steam at loading and again 2–3 minutes later; after 8 minutes drop to 210 °C and bake dry.
Step ingredients
- Proofed piece
- 1 piece
- Water for steam
- for steam, not part of the formula
- Target
- 96–98 °C internal.
- Check
- Check with the probe from minute 25.
- Evidence
- Loading time, internal temperature, crust photo.
- Timer to next step: 1 h
Cool on a rack at least 1 hour, then slice.
Step ingredients
- Finished loaf
- 1 loaf after baking
- New ingredients
- none added
- Target
- Tasting after cooling.
- Check
- Record weight loss: piece mass minus finished loaf mass.
- Evidence
- Mass, tasting note.
Journal export
After the bake, copy this text and send it to me so I can update the journal and conclusions.