When people first see a Japan Kneader dough sheeter, the obvious question is often "Why it is manual?".
At first glance, that can seem like a compromise. In practice, it is one of the main reasons these machines stand out.
Japan Kneader’s dough sheeters were designed in response to a very practical problem: how do you make proper laminated dough in a compact kitchen, without relying on a ... Read more
Simple Breadmaker Loaf
This is the perfect first step on your journey to eating better bread. We’ve got a simple loaf that’s both reliable and delicious - it’s the one we use in our BakeryBits HQ breadmaker.
It’s based on the wonderful Matthews Cotswold Crunch flour, the very first flour I baked with many years ago. We mix it with Mulino Marino 00 Soffiata, ... Read more
I’ve always bounced back and forth about breadmakers. They’ll never turn out a rustic, crusty, hand-shaped sourdough, but they do make a very decent loaf — one that’s far better than anything you’ll find in the supermarket. Why? Because you’re in control of what goes in. No mysterious “improvers” to keep it soft for weeks, no extra water to bulk it out — just flour, yeast, water, ... Read more
An A–Z guide to bread baking and flour terms
Bread baking and flour milling come with a surprising number of technical terms. What is hydration in bread? What does W value measure? Is strong flour the same as bread flour? How does 00 flour differ from plain flour?
This BakeryBits baking glossary explains common and specialist terms used in artisan bread baking, sourdough fermentation and ... Read more
A common question for anyone starting with a home mill is:
“If I mill white wheat, do I get white flour?” Or put another way:
“Can I make proper white flour at home?”
The answer is yes – but not in the way you might think.
When you use a home mill,
you’re stone-grinding the entire grain: the starchy endosperm, the bran, and the wheatgerm.
That means the flour ... Read more
Does Tap Water Affect Sourdough Baking?
A quick answer: yes, it can. Chlorine, Chloramine, it's all in the water.
Most of the time tap water is fine. If you are using a really good flour for your starter like our go-to Mulino Marino Type 00 Soffiata, but your sourdough starter isn’t bubbling as expected or your dough feels sluggish, your tap water might be part of the problem. Many UK ... Read more
