January 17, 2007 - 4:45pm
Mixing method
What is the easiest way to mix my ingredients? I'm missing a part for my mixer, so that's not an option. I tried a spoon and my hands (oh so sticky in the beginning).
Steph
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What is the easiest way to mix my ingredients? I'm missing a part for my mixer, so that's not an option. I tried a spoon and my hands (oh so sticky in the beginning).
Steph
For initial mixing I use two metal spoons, one larger and one smaller. This will be either a soup spoon and teaspoon or mixing spoon and teaspoon from our standard Target-issue silverware set.
I use the large spoon to stir and mix, to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl, and to turn/fold the blobby mass of pre-dough; and the small spoon to scrape the dough off the large spoon from time to time.
After the first mixing I usually let the pre-dough autolyese for 10-20 minutes, then continue mixing/kneading either with hands or hand and plastic dough scraper. Sometimes I end up kneading the really wet doughs in the mixing bowl with the dough scraper; otherwise I turn it out onto my countertop for kneading.
I have also been testing my King Arthur dough whisk. This is not to be confused with an eggwhite whisk; the dough wisk is a substantial loop of stainless steel on a heavy maple handle. It looks odd and I suspect the first one was made by a metalworker who left a stainless rod in the flame too long, but they do seem to work for mixing the pre-dough and are easy to clean.
sPh
Is there a technique for using a dough whisk?
There's not really a technique. It's just really handy for mixing up all the ingredients into a dough, and it cleans up well thanks to its design.
The instructor at KA dipped thumb and forefinger in flour and used them to push the dough off the wisk. Worked very well.
As far as technique: hold firmly. Rotate around edge of bowl. Keep flat face of whisk perpendicular to direction of travel (as with spoon) ;-)
sPh
... you had me laughing out loud. :-)
I just use awooden spoon. I do mine all by hand (dont own a mixer)
Its sticky at first but after a while its fine. I also knead my stuff in the bowl.......saves cleaning up afterwards.
I also do my kneading in the mixing bowl. It does save cleanup, but for me it is necessary - I have tile counters and the spaces between tiles make it messy and difficult to knead on the counter itself.
I am a purist when it comes to mixing- all hands(clean ones). =P
I found the other part of my mixer, it was the second kneading thingy. I'm going to try that when I make my wheat sourdough. Don't know if I'll knead the dough with it, but I may be able to just mix the dough to get the desired consistancy with the flour. Need to look at the instruction booklet. Mmmm.
Steph