What is the easiest way to measure bread's rising?
How can I easily measure the volume of my bread as it rises? I usually eyeball it or test for feel, but this isn't very accurate, and definitely isn't getting the full rising potential out of it.
Proofing buckets seem like one possibility, but I don't want to buy a large uni-task kitchen item if possible. I'm also not sure what volumes to expect from a pound of dough.
Best Answer
Do you have a large plastic container? Something like this:
.
Use a non-permanent marker on the outside to mark the initial volume.
A small diameter will make it easier to monitor the volume.
Pictures about "What is the easiest way to measure bread's rising?"
Quick Answer about "What is the easiest way to measure bread's rising?"
Lightly flour your index finger and press it gently into the dough, about to the bed of your fingernail. If the indentation remains and doesn't spring back/fill in, then the bread is well risen and ready for the oven.How do you measure rise of bread?
Attach a piece of tape to the side (in such as way that you can detach the tape and put it back in the same place\u2014e.g., very top of tape is very top of bowl) Pour in a measured amount of water (say, 2 cups). Mark the level on the tape. Add more water (another two cups). Mark it.How do you measure volume of bread?
Calibration makes use of a dummy loaf (usually a metal block) of known volume. Open the volumeter by unlatching the lower housing and swinging it to the down position. Place bread sample in the center of the lower housing of the volumeter device. Close the volumeter by bringing it back to an upright position.How is bread dough measured?
Perhaps the best way to tell if your bread dough is properly kneaded is the windowpane test. To do this, tear off a chunk of dough and stretch it between your fingers. If the dough tears, you haven't developed enough gluten and it needs more kneading.How to Calculate Individual Bread Dough Ingredients for a Certain Dough Mass
More answers regarding what is the easiest way to measure bread's rising?
Answer 2
You can use a transparent glass bowl (which doubles as a mixing bowl, so is not a uni-tasker), but since the sides aren't straight you'll have to create a scale for it.
Attach a piece of tape to the side (in such as way that you can detach the tape and put it back in the same place—e.g., very top of tape is very top of bowl) Pour in a measured amount of water (say, 2 cups). Mark the level on the tape. Add more water (another two cups). Mark it. Repeat as high as you'd like. You'll notice the lines get closer the higher you go. You now have a guide you can use to measure rising in the bowl, despite it having angled sides. If your dough comes to 3 lines, its doubled at 6.
You can remove the tape before washing, and put it back on afterwards. You can duplicate your piece by measuring the distance to each line on a ruler (with the tape lying flat on a surface), and then prepare a new piece of tape with the same measurements.
A sharpie might stay on the bowl for a bit, but personally I run my mixing bowls through the dishwasher, and I doubt marker would survive that.
Alternatively, if you have large ones, you can use glass liquid measures (you'd want one at least 2L, I'd think)
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Joshua Welch, Charles Parker, Nour Betar, Anthony Hobson