Author Topic: The Bread Thread (Read 110135 times)

SteveC · « **Reply #300 on:** 06 May, 2020, 08:24:29 pm »

MrsC and I both like rye bread, but I'd be wary of buying that much. 100% rye is very hard work. 50:50 can be nice. Much less and it gets difficult to tell it's there.

pcolbeck · « **Reply #301 on:** 06 May, 2020, 09:27:32 pm »

I just asked Mrs Pcolbeck to get me some rye flour tomorrow when she goes to the scoop shop. I am going to experiment.

Hot Flatus · « **Reply #302 on:** 06 May, 2020, 09:55:23 pm »

Bit of dark rye in the mix is lovely. 10%-20%

TimC · « **Reply #303 on:** 07 May, 2020, 09:44:42 am »

Flour. I remember that. Does it still exist?

Hot Flatus · « **Reply #304 on:** 07 May, 2020, 10:04:51 am »

Apparently so....

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It's who you know

robgul · « **Reply #305 on:** 07 May, 2020, 10:22:05 am »

Quote from: TimC on 07 May, 2020, 09:44:42 am

Flour. I remember that. Does it still exist?

Mrs robgul has today purchased, online, a 16kg bag of strong white breadflour - even with the delivery cost it's only a few pence per loaf more than the usual flour in 1.5kg bags from the supermarket. We also have an artisan baker about 5 miles away that is selling breadflour re-bagged in kilos from his bulk stock.

Rob

hatler · « **Reply #306 on:** 07 May, 2020, 10:30:27 am »

We've managed to score : -
1 x 16Kg plain flour from a resourceful chap from a flat somewhere in Sutton
1 x 16Kg strong white bread flour from the same place
1.5Kg rye flour from a shop in Sheen
1.5Kg wholemeal flour from Waitrose

We have sufficient granary in stock.

And yesterday Mrs hatler managed to swap two white loaves and a jar of home made damson jam for 250g of dried yeast from someone who bought 500g online but will never use that much before it's past its use by date.

TimC · « **Reply #307 on:** 07 May, 2020, 11:01:31 am »

Blimey. I think a 16kg bag would suffice for the rest of my life! I managed to get a 1.5kg bag of plain flour from the Co-op a week or so ago, but that was for a neighbour. She makes me cakes occasionally, so there was some benefit! But that was the one and only occasion in the last 7 weeks I've seen any flour in any shop (and there was only that one bag on the shelf)..

pcolbeck · « **Reply #308 on:** 07 May, 2020, 02:21:41 pm »

And lo I have 2kg of Hercules extra strong and 1kg of rye flour. The Hercules first to see if its any different to the Dove Farm I have been using.

neilrj · « **Reply #309 on:** 07 May, 2020, 02:28:44 pm »

All Asda and Morrison's with in house bakeries are selling their bulk flours loose, I think it's rebagged in kilos. Asda as ever will sell you fresh yeast. Not used the aforesaid as we like Strong Canadian, used to be Sainsbury's own but now Shipton Mill in a 16kg bag that we've shared locally.

robgul · « **Reply #310 on:** 07 May, 2020, 09:39:10 pm »

Quote from: TimC on 07 May, 2020, 11:01:31 am

Blimey. I think a 16kg bag would suffice for the rest of my life! I managed to get a 1.5kg bag of plain flour from the Co-op a week or so ago, but that was for a neighbour. She makes me cakes occasionally, so there was some benefit! But that was the one and only occasion in the last 7 weeks I've seen any flour in any shop (and there was only that one bag on the shelf)..

We make between 3 & 4 loaves a week - not that large as they are made in a Panasonic machine . . . not by hand. the 16kg will do for a while!

Rob

Wowbagger · « **Reply #311 on:** 08 May, 2020, 09:10:28 pm »

I've had a moment of madness and bought another 32kg - strong brown with big wheat flakes, and wholemeal plain flour, for cakes & pastry, but with a bit more fibre. I suspect I might get rid of some of the latter to neighbours. i also need buckets so I bought a coulpe of those - 30 litres each with a lid..

HeltorChasca · « **Reply #312 on:** 08 May, 2020, 09:31:13 pm »

My neighbour has a baguette in a cage at his house.

He says it was bread in captivity.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hot Flatus · « **Reply #313 on:** 08 May, 2020, 09:43:30 pm »

perpetual dan · « **Reply #314 on:** 08 May, 2020, 09:52:20 pm »

I’d forgotten about this thread. Our old bread machine died a while back and didn’t get replaced and by-hand was rare. With a bit more time for baking lately Mrs Dan slipped on the internet and ordered 25kg of flour (one bloody heavy bag to get up to our 1st floor kitchen) and I’ve got a mostly rye sourdough starter going and my 5th loaf is currently rising.

I’m making with 500-600g flour and only about 150g of starter (that’s about half the pot), salt and honey. It’ll go in the fridge overnight and be baked in time for elevensies (I’m a cereal for breakfast and a lie in sort). No oil and less starter than the recipes suggest, but it’s tasty enough to be gone in two lunchtimes. I’m not quite sure how varying the recipe will change things.

Mrs Dan also makes a nice focaccia. We seem to have run out of the old supply of non-white flour though

pcolbeck · « **Reply #315 on:** 09 May, 2020, 08:00:47 am »

Hercules Extra Stong is very good. Made a really nice bog standard white loaf with a good crust.
Now to experiment with the rye.

andyoxon · « **Reply #316 on:** 09 May, 2020, 08:06:34 am »

Are those with bulk (or other) bags of flour concerned at all about weevils (etc) showing up for a good time? Any issues?

nicknack · « **Reply #317 on:** 09 May, 2020, 08:11:38 am »

I think this belongs here.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #318 on:** 09 May, 2020, 08:22:21 am »

Quote from: nicknack on 09 May, 2020, 08:11:38 am

I think this belongs here.

That’s what I came here for - 10 minutes too late...

Hot Flatus · « **Reply #319 on:** 09 May, 2020, 08:22:51 am »

Quote from: andyoxon on 09 May, 2020, 08:06:34 am

Are those with bulk (or other) bags of flour concerned at all about weevils (etc) showing up for a good time? Any issues?

Not really. Extra protein

perpetual dan · « **Reply #320 on:** 09 May, 2020, 09:05:15 am »

Quote from: andyoxon on 09 May, 2020, 08:06:34 am

Are those with bulk (or other) bags of flour concerned at all about weevils (etc) showing up for a good time? Any issues?

No issues so far. At the current rate I'd expect our big bag to be gone faster than the smaller bags when bread making was only occasional and I don't remember finding anything then either.

That cartoon is good - I'm under no illusions that I'd have the time and energy during the week ordinarily.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #321 on:** 09 May, 2020, 10:03:01 am »

Quote from: andyoxon on 09 May, 2020, 08:06:34 am

Are those with bulk (or other) bags of flour concerned at all about weevils (etc) showing up for a good time? Any issues?

No. In the past 3 weeks we have socialised more with neighbours than in the previous 25 years, thanks to a enterprising young chap a couple of doors down leafletting a few dozen houses and setting up a Whatsapp group. Our road does not lend itself to any kind of "neighbourhood" feel: busy, narrow, narrow pavements, few of the houses have front gardens. Also, quite a lot of old-people flats.

I don't think I will have any trouble getting rid of flour.

citoyen · « **Reply #322 on:** 09 May, 2020, 12:34:35 pm »

Quote from: perpetual dan on 09 May, 2020, 09:05:15 am

That cartoon is good - I'm under no illusions that I'd have the time and energy during the week ordinarily.

I haven’t bought a loaf in a shop since last September. I mostly do my baking at weekends, and keep a supply in the freezer for when the fresh stuff runs out.

This was fine while I was the only one in the house eating bread, but now my son is back home from uni and with us for the next two years at least, so we’re getting through a lot more bread.

Not sure what’s going to happen when I go back to work but I didn’t have problems maintaining my sourdough starter pre-lockdown. It’s neither hard work nor time-consuming

I’m hoping that most people won’t have so much time for baking after it’s all over, then I might be able to get hold of rye flour.

SteveC · « **Reply #323 on:** 09 May, 2020, 01:01:44 pm »

In a normal year, we have about 20 weekends away from home. We only buy bread when on holiday.
My standard batch is four pounds of flour, by hand, which makes either for 'two pound' loaves (which is a month's worth of breakfasts) or 40 rolls (which is two month's worth of lunches for me, MrsC preferring a jacket potato). They all go into the freezer, having cut the loaves in half. I also make bread for our re-enacting displays. I use a sponge method. All the water, all the yeast, about half the flour for one rise, then add the rest of the flour, knead, then leave for a second rise, and finally shape, third rise, cook.
Usual procedure is get the sponge going while sorting breakfast. Go to parkrun. Once home again do stage two. Then we usually end up going shopping. Third stage around or after lunch. Total time spent is under an hour. Elapsed time obviously much longer.

So it is possible to fit bread making into a busy lifestyle and I wouldn't want to go back to buying.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #324 on:** 09 May, 2020, 03:22:14 pm »

Quote from: citoyen on 09 May, 2020, 12:34:35 pm

Quote from: perpetual dan on 09 May, 2020, 09:05:15 am
That cartoon is good - I'm under no illusions that I'd have the time and energy during the week ordinarily.

I haven’t bought a loaf in a shop since last September. I mostly do my baking at weekends, and keep a supply in the freezer for when the fresh stuff runs out.

This was fine while I was the only one in the house eating bread, but now my son is back home from uni and with us for the next two years at least, so we’re getting through a lot more bread.

Not sure what’s going to happen when I go back to work but I didn’t have problems maintaining my sourdough starter pre-lockdown. It’s neither hard work nor time-consuming

I’m hoping that most people won’t have so much time for baking after it’s all over, then I might be able to get hold of rye flour.

https://flour.co.uk/buy-our-flour/16kg-sacks

I refer the Hon Mem to my local flour mill. I don't know whether you really want 16kg at once, but Marriages restock frequently in small batches and it runs out fast. A couple of days ago I ordered 16kg of strong brown and 16kg of golden wholemeal plain flour.

Edit: they have rye flour in stock as I type. £12.49 for 16kg. Bargain!