Whenever I try overnight fermentation for better flavor, I find that bread won't rise so much after it has been shaped. The dough rises beautifully during the first fermentation on the first day so yeasts were definitely active the night before. Is it possible that yeast has died off overnight? I follow the rather conventional procedure of kneading-first fermentation at warm temperature-deflating a bit and putting in fridge overnight-shaping-proofing-baking. I allow adequate spacing during proofing process and of course overnight fermentation is done in the fridge.
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2Do you use the same (or more or less) amount of yeast for a lengthened, overnight ferment as you do for a same day ferment? – wumpus D'00m Mar 22 '20 at 11:14
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I use less because I heard that you need less for slow fermentation. – fogeidaihok Mar 22 '20 at 14:47
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1Do you know if your dough was overproofed, can you recognize what that looks like? – rumtscho Mar 23 '20 at 17:04
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It was just doubled in size. Don't recall anything odd. – fogeidaihok Mar 26 '20 at 09:59
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Overnight proofing in the fridge is a great way to improve flavor, as you suggest (creating more alcohol and allowing a better gluten structure). There are a couple of things you should keep in mind. First is the temperature and length of your bulk fermentation. Too long and/or at too high a temp it could be using up most of the sugars, and the yeast could be simply running out of food. Are you doing this fermentation above 75°F? Second, too much salt in the dough will negatively affect your proof.
myklbykl
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Thank you for the suggestion! I think I might have overdone the first fermentation on the first day. I will try to shorten the fermentation time and maybe slow it down by putting the dough in freezer for half an hour or so before a night in the fridge. I think the fridge did not slow down the fermentation in time as the dough grew considerably in the fridge which I had to inevitably deflate when shaping the dough. – fogeidaihok Mar 22 '20 at 14:51
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I would doubt your yeast died off. It is pretty difficult to do that. I generally bulk ferment for 3 - 4 hours, including stretch and folds for the first 2 hours or so, then portion and shape. Once shaped and in basket, it is placed in a plastic bag and then refrigerated. Then remove from the fridge, slash, and bake. It does not double in the refrigerator overnight, and I go directly from fridge to preheated oven.
So, maybe try shaping before your overnight proof in the fridge. Handle your dough gently during the process.
Bread is very sensitive to environmental conditions. You have to learn yours. I also find, given my environment and tools, that I get much better oven spring from an overnight ferment when I bake in an enclosed space, like a Dutch oven.
moscafj
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I was also thinking about proofing into final shape before overnight fermentation! I should really try that. Thank you! – fogeidaihok Jan 06 '21 at 21:54