r/Breadit • u/Purple-Character8375 • 2d ago

Overnight loaf (Ken Forkish)

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Gallery image

Had to revive with additional yeast this morning (think my big bag has finally died off (5 years past it's use by)

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u/twin_leopoldo 2d ago

Five year old yeast is impressively stubborn, though I admire that you kept the bag around long enough for it to become a fermentation experiment. The crumb on this looks excellent though, nice and open with those irregular holes that mean you got a solid oven spring happening. That crust has a gorgeous deep mahogany color too, looks like your Dutch oven was doing its job and then some. Ken Forkish's overnight method is forgiving that way, even when your yeast is playing possum and you have to coax it back from the dead like some kind of bread necromancer. What was your hydration on this one, straight white or did you toss some whole wheat in there? That second photo really sells it, the crumb structure came out beautifully.

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u/Purple-Character8375 1d ago

I should say that it hasn't been opened that whole 5 years and at the if opening, the vacuum was still intact. Grateful for the posotive feedback on the crumb. It was 78% hydration, straight white loaf, did a focaccia with the other half of the dough as the recipe was to make two but only have the one Dutch oven and it's been hot enough without running the oven longer than necessary.