I get a smaller volume loaf from mixing sourdough in mixer - what am I doing wrong?
I have made my same recipe (74% hydration) of sourdough by both the stretch and fold and the Kitchenaid mixer method. I get a denser, lower volume loaf when I use the mixer, whether I refrigerate the dough or the shaped loaf. The stretch and fold method yields a lighter volume, larger loaf that doesn't collapse when I place it on the hot pan and score it. I like the mixer method as less time is required to make it but it never rises up in the Banneton as much as the other method. Could it be the mixer or my inability to determine when it has fermented or proofed enough at either stage?
Best Answer
That's quite normal. Hand kneading aligns the gluten well, and stretch-and-fold aligns it better than other methods, due to simple mechanics. The aligned gluten can hold the expansion gasses better. When you knead by mixer or autolyze, the resulting gluten tends to be directionless, more like a sponge than like shingles. The difference may not be too significant in a bread made with commercial yeast, but if you are using sourdough as your leavener, you can very well end up in a situation where you have less gas production (because you are not using an optimized yeast strain) and less elastic gluten formation (because the overdeveloped texture of the starter shortens the new dough), and then you can experience what you described.
Basically, there is no easy solution to what you described. You can try starting a new starter from scratch, using a different method, and hope that it is rise-happier - but this is a ton of work. You could try using a different recipe that is easier to leaven, e.g. with less sourdough, or with a combination of sourdough and yeast, or using a very leavening-friendly flour, such as pure white bread flour (in case you are now using a dark flour or a combination of grains) - but this will change your bread's taste. Or you can try finding out if other mixers with other hook mechanisms produce a better result with your recipe, but there aren't such big differences between home models. All these things require a lot of effort, and depend on chance to find an option that is better than what you currently have (if such an option even exists). So for practical purposes, I would say you have to decide what is the lesser evil for you - low rise or spending time for kneading by hand - and go with it.
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Why is my sourdough not doubling in size?
If your starter is not doubling or growing substantially in volume between feedings, it is not strong enough to leaven dough. You can certainly try baking, but you most likely will not achieve proper fermentation.Can I knead sourdough in a mixer?
Yes you can absolutely use a stand mixer to make sourdough bread. One of the most popular choices is the KitchenAid, but any stand mixer with a dough hook attachment can be used. Sourdough bread can also be made in a Thermomix using these instructions.Can you over mix sourdough?
It is possible to over-mix dough at which point the gluten chains can break, but from our experience home bakers are more prone to under-mix their dough, not building up enough strength and elasticity.How can I make my sourdough rise more?
Knock up the temperature to as high as it will go and make sure the oven has preheated for long enough. The hotter the oven, the better. This will give the bread the strongest boost to burst open and give a high rise. Using a baking stone increases the temperature of your oven.Sourdough Challenge: Using a Stand Mixer (Kitchenaid) or Forming By Hand - Which Is Better
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