Subtitles section
Repeat sentence
Subtitles mode
Full screen
Previous
Next
x 1.0
Playback speed
More

There's no need to 'pre-ferment' bread dough at home

Video vocabulary

know

Copy vocabulary

US / nəʊ /

UK / noʊ /

A1
  • verb
  • To be familiar with a person or place, thing
  • To feel sure or be convinced about something
  • To discover or be aware of something
  • To be able to distinguish
  • To have knowledge of things

break

Copy vocabulary

US / breɪk /

UK / brek /

A1
  • noun
  • Time you stop an activity before continuing
  • End of a relationship
  • An escape from a place such as a jail
  • (Lucky) advantage or benefit from something
  • Find a solution or answer to a problem or crime
  • Change in the weather
  • verb
  • To create a new record e.g. running the 100m dash
  • To form a crack in something
  • To burst or become damaged
  • To end a relationship
  • To escape from a place such as a jail
  • To train a wild animal e.g. a horse
  • To separate into pieces by force, or by dropping
  • To act against a law, rule, or promise
  • To become known suddenly, as in the news
  • To not do what you promised e.g. not keep promises
  • To solve a crime, or answer a problem
  • To stop functioning properly
  • To suddenly start, open or commence
  • To change in pitch suddenly, as in a voice
  • To fall on the shore, as in waves
  • To begin or change suddenly; the dawn or weather
  • To defeat by causing the person to lose their will

flour

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈflaʊə(r) /

UK / flaʊr /

B1
  • noun
  • Powder made from a grain used in cooking
  • verb
  • To cover something with flour in cooking

hand

Copy vocabulary

US / hænd /

UK / hænd /

A1
  • noun
  • Cards given to a player in a card game
  • Piece of a clock that points to the time
  • Someone who performs physical tasks or work
  • Body part at the end of a person's arm
  • Help for someone performing a particular action
  • Condition of having power or influence
  • Member of the crew of a ship
  • verb
  • To give something to someone personally

polish

Copy vocabulary

US / 'pɒlɪʃ /

UK / ˈpɑlɪʃ /

B1
  • noun
  • A cream used to make shoes etc. shiny
  • Quality or style showing great skill or refinement
  • A shine on a surface
  • other
  • To make something smooth and shiny by rubbing it
  • verb
  • To make something smooth and shiny by rubbing it
  • To improve by practicing or working on it

before

Copy vocabulary

US / bɪˈfɔ:(r) /

UK / bɪˈfɔr,-ˈfor /

A1
  • adverb
  • At a time earlier than the present; previously
  • conjunction
  • In advance of something happening
  • preposition
  • In front of someone or something

have

Copy vocabulary

US / həv /

UK / hæv /

A1
  • verb
  • To drink, smoke, eat or use something
  • To experience the effects of something
  • To organize an event, or join in an activity
  • To own, possess, or hold something
  • To cause to happen or produce a particular effect

salt

Copy vocabulary

US / sɔ:lt /

UK / sɔlt /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Being preserved or seasoned with salt
  • noun
  • Natural white crystal used to flavor food
  • verb
  • To add salt to food in order to improve its taste
  • To add salt to ice in order to melt it
  • To preserve food by adding salt

exist

Copy vocabulary

US / ɪɡ'zɪst /

UK / ɪɡˈzɪst /

A1
  • verb
  • To be present, alive or real

end

Copy vocabulary

US / end /

UK / ɛnd /

A1
  • noun
  • The point where a process or activity stops
  • A point that marks the limit of something; finish
  • Goal or desired result
  • The tip, edge or limit of something
  • verb
  • To be the last part of something

model

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈmɒdl /

UK / ˈmɑ:dl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Being an excellent example of
  • noun
  • Person who wears fashion to show it to the public
  • A small scale copy of a full original
  • verb
  • To wear and display clothes at a fashion show
  • To make a small scale copy of a full original

world

Copy vocabulary

US / wɜ:ld /

UK / wɜrld /

A1
  • noun
  • All the humans, events, activities on the earth
  • Political division due to some kind of similarity

with

Copy vocabulary

US / wɪð /

UK / wɪð, wɪθ /

A1
  • preposition
  • As an employee of a certain company
  • Against something or someone
  • By using something as a means
  • Due to; because of
  • Including
  • Possessing as a feature
  • Related to
  • (Of the manner/attitude by which you do something)
  • Used to express that people or things are together

flavour

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈfleɪvə(r) /

UK / ˈflevɚ /

B1
  • noun
  • Taste of something, especially in food or drink
  • verb
  • To add extra taste to a food

into

Copy vocabulary

US / 'ɪntə /

UK / ˈɪntu /

A1
  • preposition
  • Moving or going inside something
  • In the same direction as; in the direction of
  • So as to become; taking the state of

one

Copy vocabulary

US / wʌn /

UK / wʌn /

A1
  • pronoun
  • You; we; people in general; someone
  • The thing or person previously referred to
  • adjecitve
  • Used to refer to people generally
  • Being a strong example of (something mentioned)
  • number
  • Number 1

easily

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈi:zəli /

UK / ˈizəli /

A1
  • adverb
  • Clearly; without doubt; certainly
  • Without difficulty

little

Copy vocabulary

US / 'lɪtl /

UK / ˈlɪtl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being short in length of time
  • Not great in size, amount, or degree; small
  • Being very young or younger than others
  • adverb
  • By an amount or degree that is not very much
  • Not often; rarely
  • noun
  • A person's name

let

Copy vocabulary

US / let /

UK / lɛt /

A1
  • verb
  • To allow someone to do something
  • Introducing a suggestion to do something together
  • To rent a house, etc. to others

might

Copy vocabulary

US / maɪt /

UK / maɪt /

A1
  • other
  • Used to politely request an action
  • Used to express that something could happen
  • Power, strength, force or influence

stretch

Copy vocabulary

US / stretʃ /

UK / strɛtʃ /

A2
  • noun
  • Making arm, leg muscles longer to ease them
  • A consecutive row of things
  • A period of time
  • verb
  • To make your arm, leg muscles long to ease them
  • To make something bigger by pulling on it

the

Copy vocabulary

US / ðə /

UK / ðə /

A1
  • article
  • Used to refer to something already mentioned
  • Used to show there is only one of something
  • determiner
  • Used to describe all of a family

wet

Copy vocabulary

US / wet /

UK / wɛt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning a bar that serves or sells alcohol
  • Having or experiencing a great deal of rain
  • Containing water or liquid; not dry
  • verb
  • To accidentally pee in clothes or a bed

less

Copy vocabulary

US / les /

UK / lɛs /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Smaller in amount or degree
  • adverb
  • To a smaller degree
  • noun
  • A smaller amount
  • preposition
  • With the subtraction of

sake

Copy vocabulary

US / seɪk /

UK / sek /

A2
  • noun
  • Japanese rice wine
  • Interest or benefit of someone or something

this

Copy vocabulary

US / ðɪs /

UK / ðɪs /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Used to indicate something already been discussed
  • Used to indicate something happening around now
  • adverb
  • An indication by a physical motion or gesture
  • A specific amount of
  • determiner
  • Person, thing, or idea near you
  • pronoun
  • Person, thing that has already been discussed

commercial

Copy vocabulary

US / kəˈmə:ʃəl /

UK / kəˈmɚʃəl /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • noun
  • Radio or television advertisement

half

Copy vocabulary

US / hɑ:f /

UK / hæf, hɑf /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Not complete
  • adverb
  • Partly; somewhat
  • noun
  • One of two equal periods of game time in a sport
  • The part you get when one is divided into two;

suspect

Copy vocabulary

US / sə'spekt /

UK / səˈspɛkt /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • (Of a thing) causing doubt; suspicious
  • noun
  • Person thought to have committed a crime
  • verb
  • To consider someone is the one guilty of a crime
  • To doubt or lack trust

bakery

Copy vocabulary

US / 'beɪkərɪ /

UK / ˈbekəri /

A2
  • noun
  • Shop where foods, such as bread or cakes are sold

make

Copy vocabulary

US / meɪk /

UK / mek /

A1
  • noun
  • Product made by a particular company; brand
  • verb
  • To arrange or prepare something e.g. dinner
  • To get to (a place) on time
  • To gain the status of (teacher, lawyer, etc.)
  • To create something by putting things together
  • To earn a certain amount of money at a job
  • To cause or force a person to do something
  • To cause something to happen or be formed

kind

Copy vocabulary

US / kaɪnd /

UK / kaɪnd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • In a caring and helpful manner
  • friendly and considerate
  • noun
  • One type of thing

simply

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈsɪmpli /

UK / ˈsɪmpli /

A1
  • adverb
  • In an easy or clear manner

you

Copy vocabulary

US / jʊ /

UK / ju /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Person someone is speaking or writing to
  • Person or people in general

just

Copy vocabulary

US / dʒʌst /

UK / dʒʌst /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Proper or appropriate; as is deserved
  • Doing or being what is right or fair
  • Legally correct; having enough evidence
  • adverb
  • Almost; nearly
  • Exactly at the time of
  • Exactly (the same as, like)

home

Copy vocabulary

US / həʊm /

UK / hom /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • A sports team's own field or place of play
  • adverb
  • Into the correct or intended position
  • noun
  • House, apartment or building to be rented or sold
  • Institution for sick or elderly people
  • Place where a person or a family lives
  • Country where a person lives or was born
  • Region that is native to peoples, plant or animals
  • verb
  • To move towards a particular target location

refrigerator

Copy vocabulary

US / rɪˈfrɪdʒəreɪtə(r) /

UK / rɪˈfrɪdʒəˌretɚ /

B1
  • noun
  • An electric cool box for keeping food fresh

talk

Copy vocabulary

US / tɔ:k /

UK / tɔk /

A1
  • noun
  • Style of speaking
  • Discussion between two countries
  • Giving information in front of people; lecture
  • Saying things or ideas to someone with words
  • verb
  • To make a formal speech about something
  • To say things or ideas to someone with words

somewhere

Copy vocabulary

US / 'sʌmweə(r) /

UK / ˈsʌmˌhwɛr, -ˌwɛr /

A1
  • adverb
  • At or to an unknown or unnamed place

kosher

Copy vocabulary

US / 'kəʊʃə(r) /

UK / ˈkoʃɚ /

C1
  • adjecitve
  • Being honest and correct

water

Copy vocabulary

US / 'wɔ:tə(r) /

UK / ˈwɔtɚ, ˈwɑtɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Clear liquid that forms the seas, rivers and rain
  • Large area such as an ocean or sea
  • verb
  • (Of the eyes) to produce tears
  • (Mouth) to become wet at the thought of nice food
  • To pour liquids onto a plant to keep it alive

for

Copy vocabulary

US / fə(r) /

UK / fɔr,fə /

A1
  • preposition
  • Used to show the purpose, or need of something

nowadays

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈnaʊədeɪz /

UK / ˈnaʊəˌdez /

A2
  • adverb
  • At the present time; now

why

Copy vocabulary

US / waɪ /

UK / hwaɪ, waɪ /

A1
  • adverb
  • Question word to ask for a reason
  • exclamation
  • (Used to express surprise or approval)

time

Copy vocabulary

US / taɪm /

UK / taɪm /

A1
  • noun
  • Speed at which music is played; tempo
  • Point as shown on a clock, e.g. 3 p.m
  • Number of hours, minutes needed to do something
  • Occasion when something happens
  • Period or occasion that something occurred
  • Period in history or the past
  • Something measured in minutes, hours, days, etc.
  • How long an event takes; duration
  • verb
  • To check speed at which music is performed
  • To choose a specific moment to do something
  • To measure how long an event takes, e.g. a race
  • To schedule something to occur at a specific moment

chariot

Copy vocabulary

US / 'tʃærɪət /

UK / ˈtʃæriət /

B2
  • noun
  • Ancient battle vehicle driven by standing soldier

wonder

Copy vocabulary

US / 'wʌndə(r) /

UK / ˈwʌndɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Surprise caused by experiencing something amazing
  • verb
  • To feel curious about something
  • To think or consider about something over time

amount

Copy vocabulary

US / ə'maʊnt /

UK / əˈmaʊnt /

A1
  • noun
  • Quantity of something
  • verb
  • To add up to a certain figure

french

Copy vocabulary

US / frentʃ /

UK / frentʃ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning the culture and people of France
  • noun
  • Person's name

middle

Copy vocabulary

US / 'mɪdl /

UK / ˈmidl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Equal distance from extremes
  • noun
  • Place that is halfway between two things

sourdough

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈsaʊədəʊ /

UK / ˈsaʊərdoʊ /

A1
  • noun
  • Sour fermented dough used to make a bread

math

Copy vocabulary

US / mæθ /

UK / mæθ /

A2
  • noun
  • Study or science of numbers and shapes

those

Copy vocabulary

US / ðəʊz /

UK / ðoz /

A1
  • determiner
  • The people or things we are talking about
  • pronoun
  • The objects far from the speaker

few

Copy vocabulary

US / fju: /

UK / fju /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Not many, a small number

hydration

Copy vocabulary

US / haɪ'dreɪʃn /

UK / haɪ'dreɪʃn /

C2
  • noun
  • Process of supplying or adding water to

much

Copy vocabulary

US / mʌtʃ /

UK / mʌtʃ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Very; to a high level or degree
  • adverb
  • A lot; large amount; a high degree of
  • Nearly; basically
  • On many occasions; often
  • noun
  • A large amount; a great quantity

recipe

Copy vocabulary

US / 'resəpɪ /

UK / ˈrɛsəˌpi /

B1
  • noun
  • Conditions likely to create a particular result
  • Directions for making a dish, with the ingredients

experiment

Copy vocabulary

US / ɪk'sperɪmənt /

UK / ɪkˈspɛrəmənt /

A2
  • noun
  • Test performed to assess new ideas or theories
  • verb
  • To create and perform tests to research something
  • To try something new that you haven't tried before

concept

Copy vocabulary

US / 'kɒnsept /

UK / ˈkɑnˌsɛpt /

A2
  • noun
  • Abstract idea of something or how it works

from

Copy vocabulary

US / frəm /

UK / frʌm, frɑm,frəm /

A1
  • preposition
  • Starting at a particular place, time or level

out

Copy vocabulary

US / aʊt /

UK / aʊt /

A1
  • adverb
  • No longer stylish (e.g. fashion)
  • Away from home, business, or the usual place
  • In a direction/movement away from inside or center
  • noun
  • Act when a batter cannot continue playing
  • verb
  • To tell people a secret

temperature

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈtemprətʃə(r) /

UK / ˈtɛmpərəˌtʃʊr,-tʃɚ,ˈtɛmprə- /

A2
  • noun
  • When you your body heat is above normal
  • How hot or cold something is, e.g. the weather

another

Copy vocabulary

US / əˈnʌðə(r) /

UK / əˈnʌðɚ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • One more, but not this
  • determiner
  • One more added
  • pronoun
  • One more (thing)

bread

Copy vocabulary

US / bred /

UK / brɛd /

A1
  • noun
  • Money or earnings
  • Baked food made from flour, used in sandwiches

tighten

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈtaɪtn /

UK / ˈtaɪtn: /

A2
  • verb
  • To make a rule, law or system tougher
  • To stretch, pull until movement becomes difficult
  • To turn lid, bolt etc., until it is firmly in place
  • To make face, body stiff due to anger or anxiety

call

Copy vocabulary

US / kɔ:l /

UK / kɔl /

A1
  • noun
  • A order or request for action
  • The sound an animal makes, often when in danger
  • A correct prediction, e.g. a decision in a game
  • A short visit to a place or person
  • A decision by a referee or umpire in a game
  • verb
  • To make a request or order for action
  • (Animal) to make sounds to warn of danger
  • To announce the date of an election
  • To make a judgment about something
  • To give someone or something a name
  • To guess in advance the result or outcome
  • To visit a place or person for a short time
  • To phone someone
  • To speak, announce or shout in a loud voice

keep

Copy vocabulary

US / ki:p /

UK / kip /

A1
  • noun
  • Large, strong tower in the middle of a castle
  • Money spent on you so you can live in a place
  • verb
  • To continue doing something; not to stop
  • To stop balls going in a goal in sports
  • To not give back or return something
  • (Of food) to not spoil or not rot
  • To take possession of something to own, e.g. a pet
  • To have and continue to hold something
  • To do something that you have promised or agreed
  • To stay in a certain place or condition
  • To maintain the rules

name

Copy vocabulary

US / neɪm /

UK / nem /

A1
  • noun
  • What something or someone is called
  • verb
  • To state what someone is called, e.g. John

version

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈvə:ʃən /

UK / ˈvɚʒən, -ʃən /

A2
  • noun
  • Different way that someone interprets something
  • New or different form of something
  • An updated form of some software

something

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈsʌmθɪŋ /

UK / ˈsʌmθɪŋ /

A1
  • adverb
  • In some degree or measure
  • noun
  • a person or thing of some value or consequence
  • pronoun
  • Thing that is not yet known or named
  • Approximately

affect

Copy vocabulary

US / ə'fekt /

UK / əˈfɛkt /

A2
  • verb
  • To cause a change in something else

normally

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈnɔ:məli /

UK / ˈnɔːrməli /

B1
  • adverb
  • In the manner that is usual or ordinary

professional

Copy vocabulary

US / prə'feʃənl /

UK / prəˈfɛʃənəl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Of jobs such as doctor, lawyer, accountant, etc.
  • Acting/done properly as a qualified person would
  • Getting paid for playing a sport/doing an activity
  • noun
  • Highly qualified person, e.g. lawyer or doctor
  • One who plays a sport or similar activity as a job

put

Copy vocabulary

US / pʊt /

UK / pʊt /

A1
  • phrasal verb
  • to make a light stop shining by pressing or moving a switch
  • verb
  • To move or place a thing in a particular position
  • To rate something in importance or value
  • To write or say something in a certain manner

two

Copy vocabulary

US / tu: /

UK / tu /

A1
  • number
  • 2

and

Copy vocabulary

US / ənd /

UK / ənd, ən,ænd /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used to refer to two or more things
  • Plus; in addition; on top of that
  • Used to introduce an action that follows another

base

Copy vocabulary

US / beɪs /

UK / bes /

A2
  • noun
  • Place military personnel live, train, and operate
  • Bottom part of an object that touches a surface
  • Unit of counting, e.g. 10 for counting
  • Most important idea or ingredient to add others
  • Origin or start from which something came
  • Main place where an organization or a person works
  • verb
  • To use as the starting point or origin for
  • To have as the main location for (company, etc.)

gluten

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈglu:tn /

UK / ˈɡlutn /

C1
  • noun
  • Mix of sticky plant proteins found in wheat flour

satisfaction

Copy vocabulary

US / ˌsætɪs'fækʃn /

UK / ˌsætɪsˈfækʃən /

B1
  • noun
  • Happy feeling because of something that you did
  • Providing enough to make someone happy

until

Copy vocabulary

US / ənˈtɪl /

UK / ʌnˈtɪl /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Up to; to a time when something happens
  • preposition
  • Before (a specific time)

can

Copy vocabulary

US / kæn /

UK / kən,kæn /

A1
  • noun
  • A metal container for storing food
  • other
  • Able to; have the skill to; have the time to
  • verb
  • To have permission to
  • To be possible to do
  • To preserve food by sealing it in a metal container

effect

Copy vocabulary

US / ɪ'fekt /

UK / ɪˈfɛkt /

A1
  • noun
  • An advantage, benefit
  • Change brought about by a cause; result

comparison

Copy vocabulary

US / kəmˈpærɪsn /

UK / kəmˈpærɪsən /

A2
  • noun
  • Act of comparing things

sense

Copy vocabulary

US / sens /

UK / sɛns /

A1
  • noun
  • Certain mental feeling or emotion
  • Normal or clear state of mind
  • Meaning of a particular word, phrase or text
  • verb
  • To perceive using sight, sound, taste touch etc.
  • To recognize the presence of something

ferment

Copy vocabulary

US / 'fɜ:ment /

UK / fɚˈmɛnt /

B2
  • verb
  • To go through a chemical change to make alcohol

final

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈfaɪnl /

UK / ˈfaɪnəl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • That will not be changed; permanent
  • Being the last thing in a series
  • noun
  • Last game in a series in a competition

miniature

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈmɪnətʃə(r) /

UK / ˈmɪniəˌtʃʊr, -tʃɚ, ˈmɪnə- /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • Made to be much smaller than normal
  • noun
  • Small model of something larger
  • Very small painting, picture or portrait

same

Copy vocabulary

US / seɪm /

UK / sem /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being equal in quality and amount
  • Identical; not different
  • Not changing; constant

tiny

Copy vocabulary

US / 'taɪnɪ /

UK / ˈtaɪni /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Very, very small

italian

Copy vocabulary

US / ɪ'tælɪən /

UK / ɪˈtæljən /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning the culture and people of Italy
  • noun
  • Person from Italy

not

Copy vocabulary

US / nɒt /

UK / nɑt /

A1
  • adverb
  • Word indicating the negative
  • (Used to form the negative of verbs)

mother

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈmʌðə(r) /

UK / ˈmʌðɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Female who has a child or children; female parent
  • verb
  • To take care of someone as if they were your child

reproduce

Copy vocabulary

US / ˌri:prə'dju:s /

UK / ˌriprəˈdus, -ˈdjus /

B1
  • verb
  • To make a copy of something
  • To have children/young; grow roots/new plants

texture

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈtekstʃə(r) /

UK / ˈtɛkstʃɚ /

B1
  • noun
  • Quality from different elements, as in music
  • Look and feel of a substance or material
  • verb
  • To give a particular look or feel to a surface

whole

Copy vocabulary

US / həul /

UK / hol /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Complete or full; all of
  • Being in a good condition
  • noun
  • Complete amount or sum; total

ciabatta

Copy vocabulary

US / tʃəˈbætə /

UK / tʃəˈbætə /

A1
  • noun

testing

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈtestɪŋ /

UK / ˈtestɪŋ /

A1
  • verb
  • To be given a medical examination
  • To try to establish the truth or nature of
  • To ask a series of questions to measure knowledge

usually

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈju:ʒuəli /

UK / ˈjuːʒuəli /

A1
  • adverb
  • Normally; regularly

weigh

Copy vocabulary

US / weɪ /

UK / weɪ /

A2
  • verb
  • To balance things against each other
  • To consider something carefully to form an opinion
  • To determine the weight of, using scales

weight

Copy vocabulary

US / weɪt /

UK / wet /

A2
  • noun
  • How heavy something is
  • Metal object to measure how heavy something is
  • Importance, power, and influence person, thing has
  • A source of worry, sadness, or emotional stress

really

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈri:əli /

UK / ˈriəˌli, ˈrili /

A1
  • adverb
  • Used to stress something that is said; definitely
  • In a true or accurate manner
  • Very

would

Copy vocabulary

US / wʊd /

UK / wʊd /

A1
  • other
  • Used to indicate something imagined
  • Used to ask or request something politely
  • Verb used to indicate possibility, request etc.
  • Used to indicate a preference
  • Used to indicate a reaction
  • Indicates something that occurred repeatedly
  • Used to indicate willingness or ability to do

but

Copy vocabulary

US / bət /

UK / bʌt,bət /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used before you say something different, opposite

generally

Copy vocabulary

US / /

UK / /

A2
  • adverb
  • Usually; as a rule; by, to or for most people

technically

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈteknɪkli /

UK / ˈtɛknɪkl:ɪ /

A2
  • adverb
  • In an exact and particular manner

knead

Copy vocabulary

US / ni:d /

UK / nid /

C1
  • verb
  • To press (dough or clay) to make a uniform mixture

now

Copy vocabulary

US / naʊ /

UK / naʊ /

A1
  • adverb
  • At the present time or moment
  • Right away or in the next possible moment
  • Used to refer to something that just happened
  • Time between the present and a moment in the past
  • conjunction
  • Resulting from or because of something

cup

Copy vocabulary

US / kʌp /

UK / kʌp /

A1
  • noun
  • Small round container used for drinking
  • Silver trophy teams compete to win
  • Unit of measurement for foods or liquids
  • verb
  • To make the shape of a bowl with your hands

show

Copy vocabulary

US / ʃəʊ /

UK / ʃo /

A1
  • noun
  • False display of love, emotion or action
  • An event for displaying or promoting goods
  • Play, opera or theater production
  • Presentation that is broadcast on TV or radio
  • verb
  • To be easily seen or displayed
  • To display your emotions or feelings
  • To let someone see something; display
  • To explain or teach how something is done
  • To lead someone somewhere; point them to something
  • To prove something to be true, correct
  • To reveal or allow something to be seen

all

Copy vocabulary

US / ɔ:l /

UK / ɔl /

A1
  • adverb
  • Completely; totally
  • determiner
  • Being every one of something
  • pronoun
  • 100% of something; the complete amount

between

Copy vocabulary

US / bɪˈtwi:n /

UK / bɪˈtwin /

A1
  • preposition
  • From one person, thing, or place, to another
  • In the space that separates two objects
  • Among two or more people who share something

otherwise

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈʌðəwaiz /

UK / ˈʌðɚˌwaɪz /

A2
  • adverb
  • In an additional or different way
  • Unless; or

they

Copy vocabulary

US / ðeɪ /

UK / ðe /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Two or more people, animals, or things

very

Copy vocabulary

US / 'verɪ /

UK / ˈvɛri /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning a large degree or amount
  • adverb
  • A lot; much; many
  • Used to stress or emphasize a noun

prove

Copy vocabulary

US / pru:v /

UK / pruv /

A2
  • verb
  • To demonstrate truth by providing evidence

throw

Copy vocabulary

US / θrəʊ /

UK / θroʊ /

A1
  • noun
  • Arm movement to make a thing fly through the air
  • Loose cloth or blanket (usually over a chair)
  • Forcibly putting someone on the ground
  • verb
  • To use your arm to make something fly in the air
  • To move part of your body suddenly and forcefully
  • To confuse or upset someone
  • (E.g. judo) to forcibly put someone on the ground
  • To put something somewhere suddenly and roughly

account

Copy vocabulary

US / ə'kaʊnt /

UK / əˈkaʊnt /

A1
  • noun
  • An advantage
  • Arrangement with a bank to keep your money for you
  • An invoice for things bought
  • Arrangement whereby you can use online services
  • A description, often written, of events; report

dry

Copy vocabulary

US / draɪ /

UK / draɪ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • (Of humor) clever, but not obvious; ironic
  • Without water; not wet
  • (Of wine, etc.) not sweet
  • Without butter or jam
  • verb
  • To remove liquid or water from something

mils

Copy vocabulary

US / /

UK / /

A1
  • other
  • Units of liquid volume equal to 0.001 liter

pretty

Copy vocabulary

US / 'prɪtɪ /

UK / ˈprɪti /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being attractive to the eye in a simple way
  • adverb
  • Very; to a great degree

add

Copy vocabulary

US / æd /

UK / æd /

A1
  • verb
  • To include as well
  • To put two things or numbers together, e.g. 2+2

room

Copy vocabulary

US / ru:m /

UK / rum, rʊm /

A1
  • noun
  • All of the people inside a particular room
  • Part of building enclosed by walls, e.g. kitchen
  • Opportunity to exist, happen, or be true
  • verb
  • To share a home with someone

take

Copy vocabulary

US / teɪk /

UK / tek /

A1
  • noun
  • Filming of a single scene for TV or the movies
  • verb
  • To accept something that is offered
  • To use a method of traveling, e.g. a bus or train
  • To use a camera to make (a photo)
  • To pick up something and go away with it
  • To study a subject in school
  • To attempt to pass (an exam)
  • To require a certain amount of time, money, space

bit

Copy vocabulary

US / bɪt /

UK / bɪt /

A1
  • noun
  • Device put in a horse's mouth to control it
  • Small piece of something
  • verb
  • (E.g. of fish) to take bait and be caught

fermentation

Copy vocabulary

US / ˌfɜ:men'teɪʃn /

UK / ˌfə:mənˈteʃən, -mɛn- /

B2
  • noun
  • Chemical change that produces alcohol in a liquid

way

Copy vocabulary

US / weɪ /

UK / we /

A1
  • adverb
  • Used to emphasize the amount of something
  • noun
  • Particular aspect of something being thought about
  • One of various choices that could be made
  • Particular existing condition or state
  • (Often long) distance or length of time
  • How something is done
  • Route to go to a place
  • Small street
  • Usual behavior, emotions or habits of someone

taste

Copy vocabulary

US / teɪst /

UK / test /

A2
  • noun
  • (Good) sense of style in clothes, art, or manners
  • Flavor in your mouth from food or drink
  • A liking for something; preference
  • Brief experience of something
  • verb
  • To experience something
  • To experience the flavor of food, drink
  • To briefly experience to see if you like something

drier

Copy vocabulary

US / 'draɪə /

UK / ˈdraɪɚ /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • With less water or rain (than)

normal

Copy vocabulary

US / 'nɔ:ml /

UK / ˈnɔrməl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Standard or regular way of doing something
  • Having standard mental or physical ability, health

reason

Copy vocabulary

US / 'ri:zn /

UK / ˈrizən /

A1
  • noun
  • Ability to think about facts and form a judgment
  • Explanation for why something occurred or was done
  • verb
  • To think and make conclusions in a logical manner

procedure

Copy vocabulary

US / prəˈsi:dʒə(r) /

UK / prəˈsidʒɚ /

B1
  • noun
  • A medical operation
  • Usual or standard steps taken to do something

too

Copy vocabulary

US / tu: /

UK / tu /

A1
  • adverb
  • In addition, also; with emphasis
  • Say that something is more than you want

age

Copy vocabulary

US / eɪdʒ /

UK / edʒ /

A1
  • verb
  • To keep food, wine for a long time to improve it
  • To get older
  • noun
  • Period of time in history
  • Number of years a person or thing has lived

fold

Copy vocabulary

US / fəʊld /

UK / fold /

B1
  • noun
  • Pen where sheep are kept
  • Group of people who have a common belief
  • verb
  • To bend one part of something against another
  • (Of business) to fail or close down
  • To hold something together such as your two arms

science

Copy vocabulary

US / 'saɪəns /

UK / ˈsaɪəns /

A2
  • noun
  • Study of the physical world, based on facts

small

Copy vocabulary

US / smɔ:l /

UK / smɔl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Little in size; not big
  • (Of letters) not written in capital letters
  • Being insignificant or minor
  • (Of a business) with few people or things; local
  • (Of voice) being soft and quiet
  • (Of a child) being young

yeast

Copy vocabulary

US / ji:st /

UK / jist /

B2
  • noun
  • A single-celled fungi used to make bread and beer

always

Copy vocabulary

US / 'ɔ:lweɪz /

UK / ˈɔlwez,-wɪz,-wiz /

A1
  • adverb
  • For a very long time
  • At all times; in every situation
  • For ever

after

Copy vocabulary

US / 'ɑ:ftə(r) /

UK / ˈæftɚ /

A1
  • adverb
  • Later than another time, or behind something
  • conjunction
  • Following something before
  • preposition
  • When an event happened or time has passed

will

Copy vocabulary

US / wɪl /

UK / wɪl /

A1
  • noun
  • Desire or choice of someone
  • Document saying who gets your money when you die
  • Strong desire to do something; determination
  • Desire to do something; strong wish to do
  • other
  • Used with verbs to express the future
  • verb
  • To leave property to someone after your death
  • To use mental effort to make something happen
  • Am (is, are) likely to do
  • To influence someone to do something
  • To make something happen by strongly wanting it

use

Copy vocabulary

US / ju:s /

UK / ju:s /

A1
  • noun
  • Ability to employ something
  • Need to enable it to work
  • Permission to do something with something
  • Act of spending money
  • Operation of a machine for its function
  • verb
  • To have; to eat, drink, consume etc.
  • To need to operate or work
  • To operate a machine, e.g. a computer
  • To treat a person badly
  • To do something with, for a task or purpose

stick

Copy vocabulary

US / stɪk /

UK / stɪk /

A2
  • noun
  • Long thin piece of wood from a tree
  • verb
  • To push a sharp or pointed object into something
  • To join together using glue or paste
  • To remain in one place or position for a long time

divide

Copy vocabulary

US / dɪ'vaɪd /

UK / dɪˈvaɪd /

A2
  • verb
  • To split numbers by another number, e.g. 6 / 2 = 3
  • To separate something into equal pieces

inside

Copy vocabulary

US / ˌɪn'saɪd /

UK / ɪnˈsaɪd, ˈɪnˌsaɪd /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Being in something
  • Being in a building
  • adverb
  • Into a house; indoors
  • noun
  • Inner part or surface of something

probably

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈprɒbəbli /

UK / ˈprɑbəbli /

A1
  • adverb
  • That is likely to happen or be true

safe

Copy vocabulary

US / seɪf /

UK / sef /

A2
  • noun
  • Metal box with a lock to keep valuable things in
  • adjecitve
  • Highly likely
  • Being out of danger

once

Copy vocabulary

US / wʌns /

UK / wʌns /

A1
  • adverb
  • One time; one instance
  • At a time in the past
  • conjunction
  • When; as soon as

whip

Copy vocabulary

US / wɪp /

UK / hwɪp, wɪp /

B1
  • noun
  • A long rope used to hit people or animals
  • verb
  • To defeat thoroughly or easily
  • To beat with a type of long rope
  • To beat cream, eggs etc. so it gets more volume
  • To take away something quickly

sink

Copy vocabulary

US / sɪŋk /

UK / sɪŋk /

A2
  • noun
  • Large bowl in a kitchen or washroom for washing
  • verb
  • To push something down into the ground
  • To dig (a well)
  • To move down toward a lower point
  • To decrease in value or amount

get

Copy vocabulary

US / ɡet /

UK / ɡɛt /

A1
  • verb
  • To become affected by illness or disease
  • To begin to feel or understand an emotion or idea
  • To send or bring someone or something home, etc.
  • To go somewhere to obtain something
  • To (cause to) do a particular thing
  • To obtain, receive or be given something
  • To currently have
  • To prepare for use
  • To understand something being said or read

about

Copy vocabulary

US / ə'baʊt /

UK / əˈbaʊt /

A1
  • adverb
  • To be ready to; going to
  • Nearly; approximately; roughly
  • Near; next to; close to
  • In every direction; in the area of
  • preposition
  • Concerning or of (a topic)

different

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈdɪfrənt /

UK / ˈdɪfrənt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Not of the same kind; unlike other things

people

Copy vocabulary

US / 'pi:pl /

UK / ˈpipəl /

A1
  • noun
  • Persons sharing culture, country, background, etc.
  • Men, Women, Children

like

Copy vocabulary

US / laɪk /

UK / laɪk /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being equal in status or kind to something else
  • Similar; the same
  • adverb
  • For example
  • preposition
  • Used as a filler; used to ad emphasis
  • In a way similar to the way something is done
  • Such as; for example
  • verb
  • To want to
  • To find something pleasing; to prefer something

sit

Copy vocabulary

US / sɪt /

UK / sɪt /

A1
  • verb
  • To take an exam
  • To be in a resting position on a chair
  • To provide seating for people
  • To remain in a still position while being painted

stretchable

Copy vocabulary

US / /

UK / ˈstretʃəbl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Capable of being easily stretched

that

Copy vocabulary

US / ðæt /

UK / ðæt, ðət /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • The person or thing being talked about
  • Used to identify something both the speakers know
  • adverb
  • Used to reinforce adjectives and adverbs
  • To such a degree
  • conjunction
  • Used to connect a noun clause
  • Used to introduce an adverbial clause
  • Used to introduce a noun clause
  • determiner
  • Used as a noun to refer to something
  • pronoun
  • Referring an object far away
  • Used to refer to the relative pronoun ‘which’

week

Copy vocabulary

US / wi:k /

UK / wik /

A1
  • noun
  • Period of seven days from Sunday to Saturday

down

Copy vocabulary

US / daʊn /

UK / daʊn /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being sad, sick, or unhappy
  • Not operating, working, or functioning as expected
  • adverb
  • In a sitting or lying position
  • Towards or on the ground, floor, or bottom
  • Written or copied onto a piece of paper or book
  • noun
  • A period of play in American Football
  • The soft, smooth hairs that cover a bird's body
  • preposition
  • Along something's path, course, or direction
  • Going from a higher position to a lower position
  • verb
  • To eat or drink very quickly and without stopping

slowly

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈsləʊli /

UK / ˈsloʊli /

A1
  • adverb
  • In an unhurried or not speedy manner

then

Copy vocabulary

US / ðen /

UK / ðɛn /

A1
  • adverb
  • A time that is not now
  • Following another thing in time or arrangement
  • Following on reasonably from what was just stated
  • At that time, not now

absolutely

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈæbsəlu:tli /

UK / ˈæbsəˌlutli, ˌæbsəˈlutli /

A2
  • adverb
  • Completely; totally; very

case

Copy vocabulary

US / keɪs /

UK / kes /

A1
  • noun
  • Container used to carry things, e.g. clothes
  • Set of facts about a crime
  • Set of facts about an event
  • Example or instance of something
  • verb
  • To find out about a place, as in planning to steal

find

Copy vocabulary

US / faɪnd /

UK / faɪnd /

A1
  • noun
  • Object discovered by chance
  • Things that have been discovered from searching
  • verb
  • To become aware of something that is happening
  • To discover or meet by chance
  • To decide if someone is guilty of a crime, or not
  • To learn through study, research, or effort
  • To discover something by looking for it

enough

Copy vocabulary

US / ɪˈnʌf /

UK / ɪˈnʌf /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Sufficient to answer the need
  • adverb
  • To a satisfactory degree
  • pronoun
  • Equal to what is needed; as much as required
  • Adequate number or amount

mix

Copy vocabulary

US / mɪks /

UK / mɪks /

A2
  • noun
  • A combination of more than two things
  • verb
  • To combine two or more things to make one
  • To meet and get along with others, e.g. at a party

require

Copy vocabulary

US / rɪ'kwaɪə(r) /

UK / rɪˈkwaɪr /

A2
  • verb
  • To demand that someone does something
  • To need to do something, to make it necessary

mean

Copy vocabulary

US / mi:n /

UK / min /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being good at
  • Nasty; unkind
  • Not liking to spend money; cheap; stingy
  • noun
  • Average of a set of numbers
  • verb
  • To express a particular idea or thought
  • To intend to do something in particular
  • To have a particular meaning or value

own

Copy vocabulary

US / əʊn /

UK / on /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Belong to oneself
  • determiner
  • Yours, his, hers, etc.; not belonging to another
  • pronoun
  • (Something) belong to myself
  • verb
  • To have something as your property

starter

Copy vocabulary

US / ˈstɑ:tə(r) /

UK / ˈstɑ:rtə(r) /

A2
  • noun
  • Electric motor for starting an engine
  • First part of a big meal, e.g. soup or salad
  • Subtitles section
  • Mixing some kind of pre-ferment into your dough will absolutely improve the flavor and texture of fresh-baked bread, and it's a procedure that makes all the sense in the world for professional or otherwise large-scale bakeries.
  • But for those of us just baking one or two loaves at a time at home, you can simply mix up your whole dough in one go as normal, throw it in the refrigerator to age overnight, and you will get basically the same effect.
  • I've long suspected this might be the case, but now I've done the systematic testing to prove it to my own satisfaction.
  • I'm gonna show you.
  • My base recipe is gonna be a pretty wet dough, something like a ciabatta, a cup of water, 237 mils, a teaspoon of dry yeast, a teaspoon of kosher salt, and normally I'd stir in just enough bread flour to get me a dough instead of a paste.
  • But because we're doing science today, I'll weigh out 265 grams to be consistent.
  • That'll be 90% hydration.
  • The weight of the water divided by the weight of the flour.
  • Just stir that together, then let it sit and autolyse for about 15 minutes.
  • Let your water break down your flour, and it will require much less kneading.
  • I'm just gonna do a stretch and fold.
  • I do this in the sink so that I can easily keep my hand wet, which will keep the dough from sticking to me.
  • Stretch and fold until the gluten tightens up and it stops being stretchable.
  • Just a few stretches.
  • In the refrigerator to ferment slowly overnight.
  • Now for comparison, I'll mix up my pre-ferments.
  • Technically sourdough starter is a kind of pre-ferment, but that's a different thing.
  • That takes weeks to get going.
  • It ends up tasting really different.
  • I find that nowadays when people talk about a pre-ferment, usually they mean something they whip up the night before with a little bit of commercial yeast.
  • Of those pre-ferments, there's the French model, which is named after the Polish, which is why it's called poolish.
  • Generally a very wet pre-ferment, like 100% hydration.
  • And then there's the Italian model, which is named after chariots for some reason.
  • Biga means chariot.
  • Biga is generally a little bit drier, like 60% hydration.
  • For the sake of these experiments, I'm going for a pre-ferment hydration somewhere in the middle, and usually use a tiny amount of yeast for a pre-ferment, because they're gonna have all night at room temperature to reproduce.
  • That was like 1 16th of a teaspoon.
  • I'll mix in my flour, and wouldn't you know it, my mother ciabatta recipe is 90% hydration, which is between a poolish and a biga.
  • So I can just whip up a miniature version of my final dough and that'll make the math way easier on me tomorrow.
  • I won't have to account for an excess of water or flour in my pre-ferment.
  • This is just one quarter of my final dough with less yeast and no salt.
  • People usually don't put salt in pre-ferment.
  • Salt can affect gluten and fermentation.
  • Small amount probably wouldn't do very much, but just to be safe, I'm going to add the salt all at once tomorrow, because that's easy to do, so I will.
  • Pre-ferment generally accounts for between a quarter and a half of your final dough.
  • So, for another experiment, I'll whip up half of my dough as pre-ferment.
  • We'll make a loaf with one quarter pre-ferment and another with one half pre-ferment.
  • Another thing I've always wondered, why so little yeast inside a pre-ferment?
  • People say that if you put in like a whole teaspoon of yeast in the pre-ferment, you'll get too much fermentation as it sits at room temperature overnight.
  • But too much fermentation is not a concept that exists in my culture.
  • So I'm going to whip up some pre-ferments with a lot of yeast — about as much yeast as you would use if you were just baking bread the quote-unquote normal way.
  • And we should acknowledge that the normal way isn't normal, historically speaking.
  • People didn't have little yeast granules or even brewer's yeast until relatively recently.
  • Historically, bread dough was kind of like fire.
  • It was something that ancient people tried to keep going in perpetuity.
  • Without matches, it's really hard to make fire from scratch, even if you have a flint.
  • So, ancient societies would have generally avoided the work by keeping some hot coals from last night's fire to ignite the next night's fire.
  • Similarly, once people got a good wild yeast culture going, they probably would have used it to mix up the dough for their daily bread, and then they would have held back some of that dough to mix up tomorrow's dough.
  • And thus, this whole pre-ferment procedure is kind of a modern recreation of how some people have baked bread for centuries.
  • It's the next morning, and before we bake, I could use a cup of coffee from Trade, sponsor of this video.
  • I've got a special deal today.
  • Get a free bag of coffee plus $5 off any three or four-bag subscription when you sign up using my code, which is ragusea5.
  • Trade partners with dozens of the top independent coffee roasters in the U.S. Ooh, Portrait Coffee from the West End in Atlanta.
  • I know them.
  • You just tell Trade the kind of flavors you like, whether you want pre-ground or whole bean, etc., and Trade has their roasters send you bag after freshly roasted bag.
  • Ultimately, you are patronizing local, independent businesses.
  • Trade is just handling the discovery for you.
  • They champion roasters who hold high ethical and sustainable sourcing standards.
  • I just love getting something new and interesting in the mail every week or two, and man does it make a difference being freshly roasted.
  • That one has a deep, nutty flavor.
  • Just hit my link in the description and use my special code that I've got today, ragusea5.
  • You'll get a free bag plus $5 off any three or four-bag subscription.
  • Thank you, Trade.
  • Anyway, the pre-ferments have been rising all night at room temperature.
  • The ones with a tiny amount of yeast and the ones with a ton of yeast ended up about the same volume, though the one with a lot of yeast smells much stronger.
  • It smells fruity and sour and boozy, all of which is typical of extra fermentation.
  • The normal pre-ferment with a tiny pinch of yeast just kind of smells like bread.
  • It's 25% of my final dough volume, so I will give it the remaining water in my recipe.
  • All of the salt — remember, no salt in the pre-ferment — and the remaining three quarters of the flour from my recipe.
  • No more yeast.
  • All of the yeast we need have been growing in the pre-ferment all night.
  • One thing I don't like about working with a pre-ferment is that it's kind of hard to mix in with more flour and water, but just keep stirring and it will come together.
  • I'll let that autolyse 15 minutes, take it over to the sink and do a quick stretch and fold, and then I will let it rise.
  • Same with all my other samples.
  • Let rise about two hours.
  • Stretch and fold one more time to redistribute the yeast and develop the gluten a little more.
  • I'm gonna bake these on parchment paper because they're so sticky.
  • Thanks again to my viewer who told me to crumple up my parchment so that it lays in whatever shape I want.
  • Dump out the doughs on top and let them proof for about a half an hour so they bake up puffy in the oven.
  • I'm sure I can fit two of these at a time inside a single Dutch oven.
  • The oven just traps steam and gets you a more professional crust.
  • And scoring is probably pointless for a dough this wet, but I'll do it anyway.
  • I'll bake at 500 F, 260 C for about 40 minutes or until the loaves look almost done.
  • Then I'll take the lid off for the last 10 minutes or so to let them brown, and here we are.
  • Not the most professional-looking loaves I've ever made, but good enough for a simple flavor experiment.
  • Here's one I mixed up fresh this morning.
  • No pre-ferment, no aging in the refrigerator overnight.
  • It's just a teaspoon of dry yeast, salt, water and flour.
  • Let it rise for two hours at room temperature.
  • Fold, stretch, bake.
  • This baked up kind of flat, and it has the softest, least crispy crust of the bunch.
  • The flavor is OK, but it's a little bit bland.
  • That is the quote-unquote normal bread.
  • Here's the bread we've leavened with 25% low-yeast pre-ferment.
  • The color is a little lighter, but that's probably just due to its position in the oven and the pot and such.
  • The crust is noticeably crispier, and the crumb is lighter, and the flavor is fuller.
  • A pre-ferment gets you all of the intense flavors of extra fermentation, but it combines it with the superior structural properties of a freshly mixed dough.
  • Extra fermentation kind of weakens gluten, and that can affect the texture of the dough.
  • You combine the two together, you get the best of both worlds.
  • And in my opinion, things get even better when we crack open the loaf that was made with 50% low-yeast pre-ferment.
  • This is just more of the good stuff, in my opinion.
  • More of those funky fermented flavors that I basically live for.
  • This one is 25% high-yeast pre-ferment.
  • Traditionally, people use only a tiny pinch of yeast.
  • The pre-ferment here had like half a teaspoon of yeast in it.
  • The crumb is a little denser, which you could say is bad, but I prefer the flavor.
  • This is the pre-ferment that was so fermented it smelled fruity, and I love those flavors in the bread.
  • Obviously, I am not a pro baker.
  • Pro bakers are often warning about the dangers of over-fermentation.
  • They say that it results in a dense and gummy crumb, which is bad.
  • They also say that it results in kind of a funky, sour flavor that is unpleasant, and that I do not understand at all.
  • I love the funk.
  • We want the funk.
  • Gotta have that funk.
  • This one is 50% high-yeast pre-ferment.
  • The crumb inside is verging on being wet and gummy.
  • I definitely couldn't push the fermentation any further, but the flavor is awesome in my book.
  • It's starting to taste like sourdough.
  • Indeed, if I take some equal quantities of water and tear off equal chunks of bread from a couple of my samples, and if I steep them in the water for a while, the solution of my quote-unquote normal bread has a pH of 6.6,
  • Which is close to a neutral 7. This is my 50% high-yeast pre-ferment, and the pH is 6.4, which is noticeably more acidic.
  • Extra fermentation lowers pH, and that can inhibit browning a little bit and can make the crumb a little dense and gummy, but it gets you a lot of really strong flavor.
  • It's all about striking a balance.
  • What I've learned here is that I can use lots of pre-ferment in my bread, and I can use more yeast than conventional wisdom would dictate in that pre-ferment, and I will get results that I am happy with.
  • But probably the best loaf of the bunch is the one I just mixed up normally the night before with a teaspoon of yeast, and I let the whole dough sit overnight in the fridge.
  • I stretched and folded it the next morning, I let it proof a half an hour, and then I baked.
  • Nice dark and crispy crust, beautiful fluffy crumb inside, and the flavor has pretty much the same fermented notes and slight acidity that I enjoyed with the best of the loaves I made with pre-ferment.
  • The refrigerator simply slows down fermentation, and it gets you the same combination of attributes you get from mixing a room-temperature pre-ferment with fresh flour and water.
  • So why do professional bakers use pre-ferments?
  • Are they stupid?
  • No, it makes total sense to use pre-ferment in a commercial context.
  • In a commercial context, if you're gonna mix up all of your bread doughs for the next day's business and then age them in a refrigerator overnight, you would need a giant walk-in fridge in order to do that.
  • It's much more efficient to mix up a smaller quantity of pre-ferment and then just stick it in a room-temperature closet to age overnight.
  • Plus, you can make lots of different styles of bread from that same single batch of pre-ferment.
  • In the home kitchen, it's totally different.
  • I'm only making one loaf of bread.
  • I've got room for it to age in the refrigerator, so I just mix up the dough all in one go with lots of yeast, age it in the fridge, forget about it for a little while.
  • Whenever I want to bake, pull it out, stretch it, proof it, bake it.
  • Really good.
  • Overnight gets you a great result.
  • Though, if you go up to a week in the fridge, it starts to taste like legit sourdough, but that's a topic for another day.