We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Baking

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Banneton?

By N. Freim
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 10,101
Share

A banneton, or brotform, is a basket or mold used often in the process of baking artisan bread. Used mainly with wet dough, a banneton gives the dough support during the final rising stage, but it is removed before baking the bread. The mold is usually made of thin wood, wrapped in coils or woven together in pieces, and is occasionally lined with light cloth. Since doughs that need support are often sticky, bakers rub flour into the wood or cloth before using the mold. Some bakers like to use bannetons because, if handled carefully, the dough will keep the design of the wood even after it is baked.

The main purpose of a banneton is to keep the bread from spreading out too thin during the final rise. A number of bread doughs go through two rising, or proofing, stages. The first stage of rising is often done right in the mixing bowl. After the first rise, the dough is punched down, kneaded, and left to rise again before baking. The second rise can take place in the baking pan, but some doughs are baked on flat pans or baking stones. Wet doughs can be placed in bannetons during the second rise to help keep their shape.

Bannetons are most often made from coils of wood or woven strips of a thin wood-like willow. The shape of the mold varies with the type of bread and the baker’s preference. Sourdough is usually proofed in a round baskets, while baguettes are placed in long rectangular molds. Bannetons are available in kitchen specialty stores, but most any small basket could be turned into a banneton by lining it with a thin cloth-like linen or muslin.

Before use, a banneton should be well coated with flour. Some bakers, in fact, prefer not to wash out the baskets between uses in order to season the wood. If a lining is used, the cloth should also be well floured to prevent the cloth from sticking to the dough and tearing it as the cloth is peeled away.

Linings are not always used because part of the appeal of a banneton is to have the dough retain the pattern from the wood. When removing dough from the basket, many bakers will place a baking sheet on top of the banneton, flip the whole thing over, and then lift the basket gently away. This will preserve the imprint of the banneton, giving the bread an interesting texture and appearance after it is baked.

Share
DelightedCooking is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.delightedcooking.com/what-is-a-banneton.htm
Copy this link
DelightedCooking, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

DelightedCooking, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.