Warning: My quick knead left me with a solid bread brick

I attempted to bake sourdough last Sunday and got impatient during kneading. I thought if the dough felt okay, it would rise fine in the oven. That was a huge error. The loaf came out heavy and dense, with a crust you could barely cut. Inside, it was gummy and undercooked, a total mess. I learned that proper kneading is non-negotiable for good bread. Now I always do the windowpane test before moving on, no shortcuts. Has a similar haste ever ruined your baking project?

4 comments

4 Comments

dakota_moore1mo ago

My friend skipped the second rise for her babka, resulting in a dense, sweet brick.

the_jenny1mo agoMost Upvoted

Ngl, @dakota_moore, what made her think skipping the second rise was a good idea?

rowanw1129d ago

My first sourdough attempt last year had the density of a hockey puck because I got impatient. I figured one rise was enough if I just stared at it really hard. Some lessons are best learned the chewy way.

anthony3401mo ago

Wait, is skipping the second rise really a disaster? I get that babka is supposed to be light, but come on, it's still sugar and dough. My aunt once made a cake that sank in the middle, and we just called it a pudding and ate it with spoons. So maybe your friend's dense babka is just a new style, like a fudgy brownie version. In the end, if it tastes good, who cares if it's not picture perfect?