Hello! I am an autistic bread maker and find it so hard to know when my dough has doubled in size. I take a picture and compare visually but don't know when is the magic moment it is proved enough but not too much. Are we talking doubled in height? Or volume? Am I overthinking? Does it just mean 'prove until it has got a bit bigger'? Does it matter if I am a bit off? Does anyone have any other cues or tips to help know when is time to bake? Please see my example pics, has it doubled in size yet? Thank you!
by Pitiful_Might7592
8 Comments
[Double (or more) in volume. ](https://www.recipetineats.com/tachyon/2020/03/No-Knead-Yeast-dough-before-and-after-rising.jpg?resize=1000%2C714&zoom=0.64)
Push your finger gently into the dough. If the dimple pops back all the way and disappears it’s not proofed enough. If the dimple pushes back a little bit but overall stays in place it’s perfect. If the dimple doesn’t bounce back at all it’s overproofed
Another method is to observe an aliquot – get a 100mL beaker, put 50mL dough in. When it’s expanded to 100mL it’s doubled in volume.
The poke test: https://www.theperfectloaf.com/how-to-use-the-dough-poke-test/
The way it grows depends on the container you use, for example in a round bowl it’s harder to tell than in a square proofing box because in the square it’ll grow the same way everywhere and in a round thing it’ll grow more on the sides and less in height.
I think for you the best method would be the aliquot method, take a bit of dough and put it in a container that has a straight edge, mark where the dough is and where the double would be. It’ll grow at the same speed than your loaves and let you see what’s happening more precisely
(Sorry if it’s not 100% clear, not an english speaker aha)
Get a clear plastic container with volume measurements labeled on it.
Put your dough in there.
You can now literally measure it proofing to double.
What is the reason to bring up autism? How is it relevant?
Another thing I’ve seen some people do is get something like [these Cambro containers](https://www.webstaurantstore.com/cambro-4sfscw135-4-qt-clear-square-polycarbonate-food-storage-container-with-winter-rose-gradations/2144SFSCW.html) for bulk fermentation, so you can see clearly what happened.
I mean a sphere doubles in volume with a 26% increase in radius, so it looks like it has doubled!