Finding the right place to prove dough can be one thing that makes our loaves turn out right. Finding somewhere in the cooler months can prove (pardon the pun!) difficult.
The list below has some great places to prove during the cooler months.
The list was compiled from ThermoFun Facebook Members that have had success using the methods below:
WARM PLACES TO PROVE DOUGH
Appliances: Put on top of any appliance that generates a small amount of warmth eg: Foxtel, video/CD player, coffee machine, answering machine, computer, dehydrator etc.
Bathroom: Turn on the bathroom heat lights and close the door.
Car: Put on dashboard in the car in the sun
Car: Put on the bonnet of car if you’ve just been out in it as it stays warm for a while.
Cat: If you have a cat, shoo it off its sleeping spot and put your dough there to rise... That will be your warmest spot in your house! Your cat will always find the warmest spot there is. :)
Electric Blanket: Wrap in ThermoMat under the quilt on a bed with the electric blanket on!
Heater/Fire: Wrap dough in bread mat and then in front of the fire or heater.
Hot water unit: Put on top of the hot water cylinder.
Microwave: Boil a glass of water in microwave for a minute then put dough in microwave to sit with all the steam.
Oven: Pre warm oven to about 60 degrees then turn off and put Thermomat wrapped dough in.
Oven: Bowl of boiling water in the bottom of the oven with dough wrapped in Thermomat on an oven rack.
Sink: Transfer the dough to a large bowl greased with oil, cover with cling wrap and place in the sink with hot tap water about ¾ the way up the bowl.
Slow Cooker: Put in a slow cooker you can place the dough in there to rise on low.
Thermomix Bowl: Pre heat your bowl to 37 degrees and then just make the dough as normal – but let it prove in the bowl.
Thermoserver: Fill your Thermoserver with boiling water, put the lid on and pop your dough on top, wrapped in your ThermoMat.
Thermoserver: Put hot water in Thermoserver for 5 mins, tip out and dry, put the dough in and sit on heated wheat bag. Wrap the lot in a towel and let it do its thing. It usually raises the lid off the Thermoserver!
Thermoserver: Put hot water in Thermoserver whilst the dough is kneading then dry it off and put the oiled dough into it, works a treat.
OTHER USEFUL BREAD TIPS
- When adding ingredients: Do not add yeast and salt together – so add your flour in between.
- Use luke warm water.
- After first rise, put the dough in a cold oven then the dough gets a second rise.
- Always wash bowl after kneading dough with COLD water not hot!
- A quick way to get dough out of your bowl easily is to turn the bowl upside down and then twist the black knob (this will then move the blade) - the dough will loosen off the blade and just drop out.
- If you have some dough still around the blades, replace the bowl on TM unit, then press the turbo button a couple of times – it will help force the dough from the blades to the sides of the bowl allowing easy removal. If still a little sticky add a spoonful of flour to the Thermomix bowl and repeat.
IS THE YEAST FRESH?
Sugar is used in testing yeast. To test yeast: Add ½ teaspoon of sugar with some yeast to a small amount of warm water to dissolve.
If it foams and bubbles within 10 minutes, you know the yeast is alive and active. No bubbles or foaming – chuck it out – your yeast is dead! :(
Always check your yeast is in date – yeast must be kept in fridge or freezer once opened.
WARNING FOR PET OWNERS
If dogs or cats ingest bread dough it can actually be fatal! With the yeast in the dough it can actually cause alcohol poisoning or it can expand in the warmth of the stomach of the animal and can explode the stomach. If your pet consumes dough it must get urgent vet medical attention to induce vomiting.
Please be mindful of where you put your dough to rise.
THERMOMAT
The Thermomix bread mat is not only a great bread mat it is also great for other dough work and confectionary work.
- Reinforced with fibreglass to prevent cracking
- Ruler measurements on edges for accuracy
- Can handle temperatures from –40ºC to 280ºC
THERMOMAT CARE INSTRUCTIONS
- Wash with warm, soapy water using a soft cloth
- Never use a cut or ripped ThermoMat as the fiberglass mesh material could migrate into the food.
- Do not use scrapers or brushes to clean the ThermoMat
- Never cut the ThermoMat or cut on the ThermoMat.
- Do not fold the ThermoMat to store it, rather store it rolled.
- Do not grease the ThermoMat it doesn’t need it, it is non-stick in its own right.
- Avoid using automatic dishwashers, as they may affect the quality of the mat.
- Do not use the ThermoMat with an open grill or exposed element, in a gas oven or directly on the bottom of any oven.
- The highest temperature the ThermoMat can be used at is 280ºC. This is not normally reached in an oven but be careful when using the mat for hot sugar work.
For more ThermoFun hints and tips Click Here.
For more “Techie Tuesday” blog posts Click Here.
For more great tips and recipes on using your thermomix join our free monthly newsletter here: ThermoFun Newsletter Subscription.
Click Here for more great recipes in a number of e-cookbooks – containing recipes to suit everyone.
Julie says
This is awesome, thank you!
thermofun says
You're welcome Julie! :)
Diane Cooper says
Love the above tips and hints for proving dough. One method I have had HUGE success with is; heat a wheat bag in the microwave for a few minutes, place this under an oiled bowl with your dough inside. I then cover this with a plastic food cover or glad wrap and then cover again with my thermomat and a tea towel. I leave to prove for up to two hours or doubled in size.
thermofun says
Great ideas Diane :)