13

Let's say I want to make bread. In this case, kneading is what develops more gluten.

So would it make any difference if I fully developed the gluten first (until it passes the "windowpane" test) by kneading the dough and then adding the yeast vs just kneading with the yeast already mixed into the dough?

Luciano
  • 4,794
  • 2
  • 20
  • 40
CrackerJacked
  • 688
  • 1
  • 8
  • 20
  • 2
    Regarding ways of developing gluten prior to adding yeast, you might want to look into [autolyse](https://www.kingarthurflour.com/blog/2017/09/29/using-the-autolyse-method) (which is not quite what you're asking about, but is loosely related). – R.M. Sep 19 '19 at 20:39

4 Answers4

33

The whole idea of adding the yeast before kneading is to be able to mix it uniformly. By adding the yeast after the dough is formed, it will be mechanically more difficult to combine it and you might end up with lumps of yeastless dough. Those lumps won't rise.

I suspect your bread will have a denser, non uniform crumb.

Luciano
  • 4,794
  • 2
  • 20
  • 40
6

If you add yeast after you develop the gluten you will have to knead a lot to make sure it is distributed throughout, and you will end up overkneading your dough leading to a tough result.

Kneading is only one thing that develops gluten, yeast assists in gluten development by opening up the structure when it releases CO2. Opening up the structure allows the enzymes, water and gluten proteins to move more freely and form connections. There are no-knead techniques that develop great gluten structure. Adding yeast after kneading has loads of downsides but no upside.

GdD
  • 74,019
  • 3
  • 128
  • 240
  • I see, thanks for the explanation. At least I now understand why it would be a bad idea. – CrackerJacked Sep 19 '19 at 15:52
  • 2
    While I agree with your overall conclusion, I find your second paragraph confusing. Yeast doesn't develop gluten at all, probably even inhibits it a tiny bit. No-knead techniques do develop gluten, but I don't follow how this has an influence on the optimal timepoint of yeast adding with kneading techniques. – rumtscho Sep 19 '19 at 16:34
  • As @rumtscho pointed out, your second paragraph is incorrect. Yeast (and salt) actually retard the formation of gluten that occurs from autolysis. While this doesn't stop no-knead recipes from forming sufficient gluten for successful baking, yeast definitely does not develop gluten more than kneading, or at all. – Bloodgain Sep 19 '19 at 21:43
  • Fair point @rumtscho, I over-simplified on the role of yeast. I added the paragraph about kneading and gluten development in response to the statement that kneading is what develops gluten. I have edited to correct the role of yeast in gluten development. – GdD Sep 20 '19 at 10:24
  • 1
    @Bloodgain, I disagree that yeast retards gluten development, but I'd like to understand more if you have some links to share on that as I'm always happy to learn. Salt doesn't retard gluten formation as far as I know, it retards yeast, but I'm also happy to learn more. I have edited to clarify the role of yeast in gluten formation from your and rumtscho's fair comments. – GdD Sep 20 '19 at 10:29
  • @GdD Here's one article discussing the science of autolyse with some experiments: https://www.kingarthurflour.com/blog/2017/09/29/using-the-autolyse-method. To be fair, saying it retards autolysis might be an overstatement, as what it really does is cause the gluten to tighten -- in the case of yeast due to the fermentation -- which affects the autolyse process. I'm also totally willing to admit I might be wrong here, too. I'm usually much stronger on the food science angle, and I'm less confident that I've got it all down in this case. – Bloodgain Sep 20 '19 at 15:45
6

I've seen/used a lot of bread recipes, but never even heard of one where the yeast was added after kneading. You'd think there'd be good reasons for that. Kneading actually has a double function: not just releasing gluten but also mixing, so why try to separate them?

Luciano is certainely right about the unformity of the texture. I believe the texture of gluten would keep ingredients from migrating and make mixing more difficult, which would be catastrophic for yeast. In fact, if you add some discrete chunks of something to the bread you usually add them after kneading or at the very end (olives, bacon bits...), but all ingredients that have to be mixed in uniformly (salt, spices) get added before kneading.

There are even recipes that separate out the initial rising of the yeast from the mixing. I learned at first from the Tassajara Bread Book, which generally uses a sponge method where you allow liquid, yeast and a small bit of flour to start fermenting before adding other ingredients (especially salt). I've often transposed this method into other recipes as I find that does give a good texture and a better rise.

0

The method i use follows this concept and works for me. My favorite recipe is for a baguette dough where the first step is to mix (mix well, no kneading) only flour with 50% of its weight of water and let it sit, covered, for 45 to 60 minutes. After that, add 10% of the flour weight of water plus yeast plus salt to reach 60% of water. Mixing it is messy, but works. Leave it covered for another 45 to 60 minutes.

Then knead it lightly, for 5 minutes. Cover again and wait 45 minutes. Here you can put in the fridge for 24h to make a tastier dough.

Or form and strike the baguette, leave it covered for last 45 minutes and bake (hot oven, small ice cubes dropped in the bottom of the oven). Always work.

Morts
  • 121
  • 1
  • 6