6 05, 2022

The Technology of Sourdough Starters

The quality, flavor and ultimate success of your fermented breads begins with sourdough starters, or preferments. Although making a starter is simple enough, there is a complex side to sourdough technology. Sourdough (also known as levain) leavens bakery products as a clean label leavening solution for wheat and rye bread, Panettone, Colomba, Pandoro, different brioches, [...]

2 07, 2015

Ciabatta

Ciabatta What is Ciabatta? A ciabatta is an Italian yeast-leavened artisan and hearth-type bread made with a lean formula. It is characterized by having a crisp crust and a large, irregular and open crumb grain (cell structure). The flour’s high water absorption level is the basis for ciabatta’s dough stickiness and weakness, [...]

10 06, 2015

Biga

Biga What is biga? Biga is a type of preferment or yeast starter that does not include salt in its preparation, only flour, water and yeast. It is a stiff preferment due to its lower hydration level, usually in the range of 50–60% water absorption. Biga is to the Italians as poolish [...]

7 06, 2015

Preferment

Preferment What is a Preferment? A preferment is a mixture of dough components which is allowed to ferment before it is added to a bread mix. Types of preferments include: Sourdough Levain (a type of more hydrated sourdough) Poolish (also known as French preferment) Biga (Italian preferment or aged dough) Pȃte fermentée [...]

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