10SEP2016

Profile picture for user kimming

shortened proofing time .... angle of scoring adjusted ... fire bricks over lined aluminum foil bad idea ... back to the drawing board ... *sigh*

the underside of the loaves underbaked due to lying fire bricks over aluminium foils ... i think ... but lazy to post all pics ... 

How long did you preheat the bricks? If the fire bricks were fully preheated the aluminum foil should not effect how the bread bakes since it is on the bottom. Try baking a little longer or at a higher temp. Good luck. Experimenting is part of the fun.

 

I also don't see anything wrong with the loaves.  They gained a lot of height from what I suppose that they looked like when they were loaded.  Good oven spring and good grigne/ears take time to get the hang of.  For a new baker, you have a nice jump start, and good even scoring across the loaves.

If there was any one area where I'd have you consider, it would be about how you are steaming the oven and how much space you are allowing the steam to circulate with the box.  The baking deck looks to span the entire width of the oven, and although slight, it might be prohibiting sufficient circulation of steam throughout.  I'll assume that you are steaming from below.  

There is ample good advice and evidence on TFL about steaming techniques to get that quality oven spring and delay the caramelization of the crust.  If you aren't familiar with them, I'll suggest doing searches on Sylvia's Steaming Towels and lava rocks, two tried and true methods, both of which I use together.

Nice going...

alan

i only spritz the dough pretty wet ... no steaming ... but will try steaming as per your suggestions and searches ... circulations ... didn't thought of that ... thanks a lot ...