Equipment

Ceramic pan
Proofing basket, handmade
Scoring with a lame

Steaming

Ceramic pan

This is our latest investment in baking bread. On the market in Chiang Mai we found this ceramic pan for 2 euro. I was looking for a cast iron pan, but we couldn't find one. When I tried the pan with a Tartine countrybread the result was amazing. The dough sticked on the parchment paper and I had to force it into the pan. But, the bread came out beautiful and tasteful.   


Proofing basket, handmade

We bought two proofing baskets on an artisan market in Chiang Rai. We showed the man at the stand a photo and a week later he had them made for us. The baskets are handmade from rattan and have no nails. The ones he made for us are round and have a diameter of 11 inch. But we’re sure he can make other models and sizes. 

Score with my own lame

I made my own lame. It looks so easy to make, and I did. I used a piece of bamboo from our garden; we live in Thailand. And bought a thin razor blade. It works great and is cheap.

It does help to steam

This is how we steam. I say "we", because my sollution is a bit too heavy and hot to handle by my self. So, Peter, my husband, needs to assist with the pots. We made an eye bolt on the biggest and heaviest pot, it helps. We just bought a marble tile and it works great. You can see the loaves spring in the oven. Flat bread, because of a wet dough, will rise.  

The other option Susan mentioned, is steaming with Lava Rocks. We found stones, not yet the lava stones. But dark stones that keep a lot of heat. I have used them already and they produce steam.

When I started to bake bread, I soon discovered my bread tasted ok, but didn't look as beautiful as the ones on the sites I visited. Those breads looked really crunchy and mine didn't.

Thanks to Wild Yeast Susan for showing me a way, that was affordable and possible here in Thailand. Since that day, my bread looks better. This one is baked with steam. I like the real Artisan Bread, especially the sourdough ones, like this one I baked.