{"id":4302,"date":"2012-03-20T12:03:59","date_gmt":"2012-03-20T19:03:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/artisanbreadinfive.com\/?p=4302"},"modified":"2024-04-06T08:28:58","modified_gmt":"2024-04-06T13:28:58","slug":"how-to-make-a-2-pound-loaf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artisanbreadinfive.com\/2012\/03\/20\/how-to-make-a-2-pound-loaf\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Make a 2-pound Loaf"},"content":{"rendered":"
In Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day<\/a>\u00a0and Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day<\/a> I suggested baking a 1-pound loaf and gave detailed instructions for making this smallish bread. It seems like a nice size loaf for a family of 4 to eat in a day. On some occasions you may want to bake a larger loaf and it requires a few adjustments to the recipe. Here are step by step instructions for baking a 2-pound free form loaf.<\/p>\n 2 pounds pre-made, refrigerated dough (the timing will be different for fresh dough that has not yet been chilled)<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Form the dough into a ball (here is a video on how to form wet dough<\/a>), then place ball of dough on piece of parchment or a cornmeal covered Pizza Peel<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Loosely cover the ball with plastic wrap. For this larger loaf you can’t skimp on the resting-time, otherwise it can form a tight skin that prevents full rising, can can distort the shape of the baked loaf. <\/em>Allow to rest at room temperature (65-70\u00b0F) for 90 minutes (2 hours if using doughs made mostly with whole grains).<\/p>\n Preheat the oven with a Baking Stone<\/a>\u00a0set on the middle rack, to 450\u00b0F as read on an Oven Thermometer<\/a>. Have a roasting pan on the bottom rack.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The dough will have risen slightly but mostly spread sideways. It should no longer feel chilled or tight and will shake like set gelatin when you shimmy the loaf on the parchment (this won’t be as apparent with whole-grain dough).<\/p>\n Slash the loaf with 1\/2-inch deep cuts.<\/p>\n Slide the loaf onto the baking stone. Add one cup of water to the roasting pan and bake the bread for 45-50 minutes.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Remove the golden brown loaf, take off the parchment and let it rest on a cooling rack for about an hour.\u00a0The loaf may still be gummy on the inside if you cut into it before the hour is up.<\/p>\n