Kneading

[pruney]

What's the best way to knead dough? do you use your knuckles or is the ball part of your hand best?

[pruney]

Thanks allen but don't really want to buy a breadmaker as it takes the fun out of it but i think i'll venture down the library tomorrow.

[scarett]

Look at this site http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/People_and_Places/Question75619.html

[scarett]

http://www.baking911.com/bread101_knead.htm first one didn't work try this

[Earthlady]

I don't know about the best way but I use the heel of my palm, pushing the dough out and then folding it back and turning it to repeat again. I use both hands and get a great rhythm going, using each hand alternately. I always get super results but maybe that's in the recipe rather than just the kneading - Jamie Oliver's bread recipes are knockout:-)

[Kay]

I always used my fists,a tonic if I was in a bad mood. Get in there and pummel away.

[smudge]

When I used to make bread, I used the heels of my palms & my fists too. Whilst I kneaded away, the look on my face resembled an all in wrestler!

[New Forester]

The objective is to stretch the protein (gluten).  What I do is stretch the lump of dough, thean fold from the ends to the middle, turn a quarter turn, stretch it the other way and do it again -- perhaps ten, fifteen times or more.  As you do it, you feel the dough tighten and become more springy.

 

Then (especially with good strong flour) I often leave it for a couple of hours to rise a bit, then knock it down and knead again.  Then I chop it into bits and knead each one separately, finishing with a rough loaf-shape, rounded on the top.

[smudge]

NF - I'd love to sample your bread - bet it's delicious!