How to Convert any Baked Good Recipe to a "Soaked" Recipe (2024)

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  • Shannon
  • March 14, 2013
  • In the Kitchen

How to Convert any Baked Good Recipe to a "Soaked" Recipe (2)

If you’re familiar with Nourishing Traditions then you’ve certainly heard of soaking grains. I personally believe that soaking is just a half-step towards the better option of fermentation, which you can read more about here.

That said, sometimes I want to soak something because, you know, I accidentally killed my sourdough starter… or other better reasons which I can’t actually think of right now. So, yeah, I killed my sourdough starter and I haven’t started a new one yet. And that’s why I’ve been soaking stuff lately.

It’s actually fairly easy to convert any recipe to a “soaked” recipe. First, though, lets talk about the elements necessary for a good grain-soaking:

  1. Moisture. You can achieve this with water or some type of dairy product.
  2. Acidity. This can be vinegar or lemon juice added to water or a cultured dairy product such as kefir, yogurt, or buttermilk which all contain lactic acid.
  3. Warmth. Generally speaking, fermentation happens faster and more efficiently if temperatures are between 60 and 90 degrees.
  4. Time. The longer, the better. In fact if you let it soak long enough it will eventually just ferment anyway.

A lot of people talk about phytic acid and neutralizing other types of anti-nutrients. I think this is all good, but personally, I’ve just found it is a lot easier on the body to digest grains that have been broken down a bit through soaking or fermentation before eating. That’s because whole grains contain fiber, which, while some tout its health benefits, can be very hard to digest.

There are two types of common baked goods: yeast-risen and “quick” breads. Yeast-risen breads usually require a proofing period which can be extended to also include the soaking period, but you have to make some adjustments. Quick breads can be soaked before adding leavening agents and other ingredients like eggs.

For a soaked yeast-risen bread I like something akin to this no-knead bread. It has a long rise time because it uses very little yeast. I replace 2 tablespoons of the water with apple cider vinegar and have used entirely whole grain flour with different, but delicious results. I have done variations on this with other bread recipes using a ratio of 6 cups flour to 1/2 teaspoon commercial yeast with two long rising periods.

How to Convert any Baked Good Recipe to a "Soaked" Recipe (3)

For a soaked quick bread you will have to go against the formula that goes something like this: mix dry ingredients in one bowl, mix wet in another bowl, combine and bake. Instead I mix my flour with whatever liquid is involved – usually some type of cultured dairy. I let that sit for at least 12 hours. Then any other liquid ingredients I combine in a small bowl – eggs, melted butter, etc. I then sprinkle the salt and leavening agent over the grain-dairy soaking mixture. I slowly pour the liquid ingredients into the soaked flour with sprinkled salt and leavening agents while stirring just until combined. If a recipe calls for butter to be cut into the flour I do that and then add the liquid for soaking.

I have successfully made this 100% cornmeal cornbread into a soaked recipe by simply soaking the cornmeal and milk (usually a combination of kefir and fresh milk). I then proceed with the rest of the recipe 12-24 hours later.

Generally speaking, a soaked recipe is usually not identical to a non-soaked recipe in results. Often times I find that the texture is actually better, especially the “raising” property of the bread probably due to the breakdown of the fiber. Other times it’s just different. Because we notice a difference in how we feel, any small taste differential is minor when we leave the table feeling nourished instead of heavy and tired.

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How to Convert any Baked Good Recipe to a "Soaked" Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to use soaked flour? ›

The basic technique is the same no matter what grain you're working with: simply combine the flour and the liquid called for in the recipe and let this soak overnight before continuing with the recipe. Some people advocate adding a tablespoon of an acidic ingredient like lemon juice or yogurt per cup of liquid.

Does soaking flour remove gluten? ›

Phytic acid can be neutralized in as little as 7 hours when soaked in water with the addition of a small amount of an acidic medium such as vinegar or lemon juice. Soaking also helps to break down gluten, a hard-to-digest protein found in grains such as wheat, spelt, rye and barley.

Why soak flour for bread? ›

If you're new to traditional foods baking, one of the easiest ways to deactivate the phytic acid in whole grains is to learn how to soak flour. By following this traditional foods technique, you will be happily rewarded with light, whole grain baked goods that you've maximized for nutrition and digestibility!

What happens when you add water to flour? ›

The flour grain particles swell and are mechanically broken apart by mixing, but the starch granules remain embedded in the protein matrix (Létang et al., 1999). In contact with water, proteins and the other components of the flour, hydrate and bind a given amount of water depending on their affinity for water.

Does vinegar neutralize gluten? ›

Most vinegars are gluten-free. Most varieties are distilled and made from inherently gluten-free ingredients such as grapes. The only vinegar that needs to be avoided is malt vinegar. Malt vinegar is not distilled, and malt is derived from barley, a grain that is not gluten-free.

Does vinegar destroy gluten? ›

Vinegar and Gluten

Many experts consider distilled vinegar to be safe, because the vinegar distillation process breaks down and eliminates the gluten protein fragments.

Why do bakers spray water on bread? ›

Wetting the dough causes the surface to steam. Covering it traps the moisture. This partnership stops the bread from drying out on the surface in the hot air of the oven and forming a premature crust. Your bread rises more and produces a richer colour, becoming glossy on the surface.

Why do you put vinegar in bread dough? ›

And It's not just cakes that benefit from a touch of vinegar, but also biscuits, muffins, and even bread. So when it comes to bread, it's the same concept – vinegar inhibits gluten formation which leads to a more relaxed and extensible dough, resulting in a less dense and chewy bread.

How long can you soak flour? ›

Soaking flours and grains is a shortened version of fermentation. It is usually done for 12 to 24 hours and it is often recommended to introduce an acidic medium to the process, mimicking the acids that are naturally produced during the souring process.

What are 5 grains to avoid? ›

Five kinds of grains are prohibited: wheat, rye, barley, oats and spelt. Why? Because these grains begin to ferment and rise when they come into contact with water for 18 minutes. In Hebrew, that rising grain is called chametz.

Why do we soak multigrains? ›

Soaking seeds and grains (especially grains) before you bake with them is important for many reasons: 1. It makes them soft so they are more pleasant in the mouth and easier to chew completely so they won't break your teeth, take out your fillings, and are easier to digest. 2.

Can you use damp flour? ›

One thing to do with a bag of wet flour is to make dough with it all right away. Just add more water, a little yeast and about 3/4 tsp of salt per pound of dough, in batches small enough to knead. You might have to go by feel for how much water to add, since weighing damp flour won't give you a dry flour weight.

How do you get water out of flour? ›

Heating up of the flour or starch breaks up some or all molecular groups and bonds. The captured water is now released and can be transferred to the hot air.

How long does it take for flour to absorb water? ›

Classification of flour according to its water absorption
Flour typeWater absorptionDevelopment Time
Very strong flour>63%>10 min
Medium strength flour54-60%2.5 – 4 min
Weak flour<55%<2.5 min
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