Making a Wholemeal Loaf

Asked on 21 Jul 2019 by Mrs Hobson

I have made the Delia wholemeal bread 3 times and every time right before putting it into the oven it sinks and I get a small almost squashed down loaf in height. I use 450g wholemeal flour, 2 tea spoons of fast action yeast 1 of salt and the 350ml of warm water. I put tea towel over it and leave it to prove for 2hrs and it hardly rises. Rises slightly more if I turn the oven on and place it on top so the tin gets warm but as i say it shrinks even between me taking the tea towel off and straight into the oven. I am determined to get it right, so can you help? I use a metal loaf tin to prove and bake it in. I am stumped as to my error or what's going on. It's tasty but comes out slightly more spongy than soft wholemeal.

Lindsey, Food Editor replied

Hello,

When the dough has proved the structure is very fragile.

We use a large polyethene bag rather that a tea towel and avoid any drafts, sharp jolts or bangs as we put it into the oven.

We make it in the cookery school if you would like to watch it.

Lesson 1. Wholemeal Breads

Best wishes

Lindsey

Mrs Hobson replied

Thanks for the reply. I wonder in this day and age with the need to reduce plastic, do you have an alternative to a polythene bag?

Also my tin is quite long rather than deep, could this make any difference in lack of height and what about a dough hook on my stand mixer, i use this but should it just purely be by hand?

Someone else suggested even with fast acting yeast, mix it with the warm water to start it off and prove the dough in a bowl, knock it back then prove a 2nd time in the tin, any thoughts on this?

Lindsey, Food Editor replied

Hello,

We save and re-use our plastic bag for proving but you could use a large upturned bowl – anything that is going to block out drafts and not come into contact with the dough as it rises.

Yes, absolutely the tin shape will make a difference.

It’s not necessary to mix the easy bake yeast with water.

Using a dough hook is fine and yes of course if you have the time and inclination you can kneed more and give it a second proving if you wish.

Kind regards

Lindsey