Bakers to the Rescue Please!

[GuyFawkes]

All attempts to make bread are failing miserably  by machine or hand so can someone tell me what i'm doing wrong please.

 

I'm using:   500 grams Swan Bread Flour, 7 grams instant yeast. 2 teaspoons of salt. 3 tablespoons of virgin olive oil. 320mls of water.

Equipment is Versu Homemate bread machine.

When making by hand it is a brand new Electrolux oven at 190 degrees.

Following instructions for kneading by hand

 

I changed to Olive oil from butter thinking that might be the problem but it's not.

 

Result;   Looks a perfect loaf.  However very crusty outside and heavy.

 

advice would be most welcomed.

[BritManToo]

Too much water, use 240gms water.

Too much salt, use 1/2 teaspoon.

Add a flat tablespoon of white sugar (the yeast likes a bit of sugar).

 

I use 20ml of soy oil in my bread (think that's about the same as 3 table), no benefit in Olive, it's just raising the cost for no reason.

Edited January 16, 2020 by BritManToo

[CharlieH]

"Dense or heavy bread can be the results of : not kneading enough the dough mix.  Mixing the salt and yeast together or Losing patience in the middle of molding your bread and there is not enough tension in your finished loaf before baking."

 

https://thebreadguide.com/bread-dense-as-a-brick/

[GuyFawkes]

Thank you both.  Tried again following your comments.  Bread now edible but still very crusty.

will continue to experiment.

[BritManToo]

22 minutes ago, GuyFawkes said:

Thank you both.  Tried again following your comments.  Bread now edible but still very crusty.

will continue to experiment.

Too crusty = oven too hot, try baking at 175c

[chickenslegs]

31 minutes ago, GuyFawkes said:

Thank you both.  Tried again following your comments.  Bread now edible but still very crusty.

will continue to experiment.

If you prefer a softer crust, paint the crust with warm milk as soon as you turn it out from the pan. The crust will soften as it cools.

[Sam Lin]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Too crusty = oven too hot, try baking at 175c

 

Along this line, have you checked your oven temp with a separate, calibrated thermometer? Many consumer ovens are grossly inaccurate for temps if you use the numbers printed on the dial.

[GuyFawkes]

2 hours ago, Sam Lin said:

 

Along this line, have you checked your oven temp with a separate, calibrated thermometer? Many consumer ovens are grossly inaccurate for temps if you use the numbers printed on the dial.

Good Point.  Short answer is no but will after I buy over thermometer.  Thanks.