As I consider ideas for our next Community Bake (CB), a particular crumb comes to mind. We have chased extreme open crumb, and many have succeeded gloriously. I think/hope that many of our participants are ready to pursue the Lacy HoneyComb crumb. If only we can produce breads that somewhat resemble the crumb of a croissant! It is not the Instagram Crumb that is so popular at this time. But, as far as I am concerned, it should be. What more can you ask of a crumb type? It is absolutely gorgeous, photogenic, and it even holds your condiments without slipping through the giant holes that are ever present in “bread porn” shots of this present time. Here are a few screen grabs to visually communicate the crumb mentioned above.
For those who are not familiar with our Community Bakes, see this link.
http://www.thefreshloaf.com/node/61187/list-past-and-present-community-bakes
My ultimate crumb is the one on the top left, which do you like best?
All of the Instagram screen grabs above were baked by “Chompmon”. I am in contact with her and hoping to pick here brain for help with this type of crumb.
QUESTION - Is there an interest among The Fresh Loafers to pursue this type of crumb with me?
Should it become our next Community Bake?
Hopefully, with input from all of the CB participants, we can learn together to consistently bake breads that will produce this type of rare and gorgeous crumb.
Your opinions matter...
Danny
I'm very interested!
Looks spectacular. Would love to try my first community bake!
My favorite loaf is top right and bottom left. They look the same
I would be satisfied with any of them, I think this would be a good CB.
Benny
Please post images of your favorite crumb.
Dan
I love this crumb that you posted. That said, I would be more than thrilled to achieve any of the crumbs that you posted! Thank you!
Here is a list of Instagram bread crumb that are excellent, in my opinion.
Chompmom
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzuZfzXnL2q/?igshid=1kjf3i0cxof10
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1ujNTWJ0vz/?igshid=19i9c0tkjqaee
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw_WcLCJFLG/?igshid=bq79mbni09et
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvaeUeJnRxR/?igshid=jmfx2hk7g055
https://www.instagram.com/p/BtwshkXn6GR/?igshid=khos8010mk0h
https://www.instagram.com/p/BtR16wvndIZ/?igshid=ihs0be1tajcb
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs-EwfgHwOc/?igshid=16f3r1e3qhica
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs3ROdanWit/?igshid=18nou4rhksuwi
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsab1jUHivd/?igshid=19byqiog974mq
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqzGTJDn8u7/?igshid=1032hkmuvl457
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bkv6TQMFmMd/?igshid=1l6mwnq993vdj
Kristen (@fullproofbaking)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvJ9oXmnlGt/?igshid=1djhtk1cdh23i
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvJ9oXmnlGt/?igshid=1t890zxosbicu
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsqJVKQnhrj/?igshid=57mftiq100l7
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsgirzAHhpk/?igshid=spa25ytqwbd1
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuY1vZ9Hkmj/?igshid=1uf8l68w019x6
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrgRkgnHhh8/?igshid=1rj63pt3fbzx4
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqu25EMnkYJ/?igshid=1vxhvanfllcas
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqhw36Wne-M/?igshid=t14io0owmmqi
https://www.instagram.com/p/BppA2NzHeXh/?igshid=bitl8s697rlv
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpRy2MKHRUV/?igshid=1but0r1ugvbqq
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo_wPjeniJs/?igshid=phreakcfz5c4
SharonKuan
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1XgzTrpvZa/?igshid=m7lcz0cd7jnm
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByrGCjDJ7JW/?igshid=13gpo9ct2f1tz
https://www.instagram.com/p/BseAqFWHFli/?igshid=1rrnjvqglg8ek
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk80gTyFJmq/?igshid=qj4750m80wwn
https://www.instagram.com/p/BkEfBDZl4r7/?igshid=zdb3oy8muv5b
Rocio (@rociocapelo)
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2t3Id6D8Dv/?igshid=uvyqagpsf65y
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwoy1kTHpAm/?igshid=1vmo72vwpbxhy
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwoy1kTHpAm/?igshid=zjvt76n0ctnc
https://www.instagram.com/p/BtxqsWwnVO8/?igshid=1w2yor2ejmj8c
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsfxIEXnOln/?igshid=3ycluz13926l
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo_kyronJ77/?igshid=c5l08ju7zyy1
Letizia (@letiziabruno_sdz)
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1O0vUyol-g/?igshid=14e8c1o1n13mb
https://www.instagram.com/p/BxSqrnvFUMa/?igshid=16ascc5qq0kcs
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrVPz_sAPKi/?igshid=601gynsr6u15
Dan, Does Mrs. Ayo ever feel like an "Instagram Husband"? ;-) (What does she think of that video I linked?)
Dave, neither one of us knows squat about Instagram or Facebook for that matter. We don’t have a clue...
An open even crumb is the gold standard for many bakers. They're looking for open crumb with a light airy texture and moderate sized alveoli, but don't want any dense areas or too many overly large holes or tunnels. Something that would still make for great sandwiches and toast – but that isn't a factory- style pan loaf.
They're after the honeycomb pattern.
Don't let the name fool you. Honeycomb crumb isn't necessarily a perfect matrix of even-sized alveoli. Some holes will be bigger, some smaller. Some might cluster a little heavier to one side than another.
But as a whole, a slice of honeycomb bread will have a fairly even texture all the way through -- with only moderate variation in hole size, and little clustering.
Honeycomb-patterned bread is very light. A slice is like the cross section of a cloud, mostly air. It's very soft and billowy, almost delicate. The evenly spaced and open alveoli are perfectly suited for catching butter or jam. Indeed, a slice of honeycombed bread will likely take twice as much butter due to its deep regular spaced holes.
And it was practically made for toasting.
Honeycomb crumb is very difficult to achieve. It takes a combination of well-developed dough, perfect fermentation, and extremely gentle handling. But the reward can be well worth the challenge.
For the highest representation of the Honeycomb pattern, the crumb should be lacy as well. Lacy honeycomb is a dream. It truly looks like the honeycomb found in a hive. And its achievement tastes just as sweet.
GREAT! MT
Trevor is a communicator extraordinaire. He says things in such a descriptive way and at the same time does it with such grace. I’ve actually asked him to consider writing a novel. <For True>
I suspect that Lacy Honeycomb crumb will challenge us as much, and probably more than any other type of crumb. Thanks for posting that.
Danny
A Dremmel tool and some varnish and with a steady hand you could make whatever crumb shot you want!!
Count me in! I would love to be able to achieve this crumb consistently.
I would be delighted to call any one of them mine,......if only! But if I had to choose I would go with middle right.
A honeycomb crumb is what I would like to see every time I cut into a freshly baked loaf but so rarely do, so I think a community bake based on that would be a great idea and I look forward to taking part and learning more. Thank you Dan for putting this forward.
Alan
How are folks doing on their progress on the lacy crumb?
TwoCats, the proposed Community Bake, featuring HoneyComb Lace was put on the back burner. The baker that was supposed to work with us cancelled because of time constraints.
If you have any ideas, please let me know. I really would like to do this CB, but we need someone to head it with experience and success with this type of crumb.
Unfortunately, the bakers that I am aware of that are producing this type of crumb on a regular basis are extremely rare.
At the present we are hosting the current Community Bake featuring Whole Wheat bread.
http://www.thefreshloaf.com/node/62486/community-bake-approachable-loaf-bread-lab
Danny