when baking what should course crumbs look like

by Gloria Dietrich 7 min read

How to make crumb topping?

If you’ve ever wondered how to make crumb topping, you’ll need four ingredients: brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, and flour. First the brown sugar and cinnamon and combined together in a bowl. You won’t need a huge mixing bowl or anything.

What size baking dish do I need for crumb topping?

Your goal is to have a crumb topping with a texture that can hold its shape when scattered over a dessert, yet isn’t too dry that larger crumbs disintegrate into sand. As far as servings go, this batch of crumb topping covers an 8″ x 8″ baking dish completely, seen in the first photo in this post.

How to evaluate crumb structure of baked goods using AACC?

The AACC method 10-18.01 for evaluating crumb structure of baked goods relies on C-Cell Baked Product Analyser. Two models are available, C-Cell Mono & C-Cell Color, both running on the same software platform.

Why does my cake have a tough Crumb?

If your recipe calls for a cake or pastry flour then an all-purpose flour or bread flour will be too hard, creating a tough crumb. A cake has gone through a lot over the last 30 minutes, not to mention turning from a liquid to a solid! It needs a minute or two to gain its composure once removed from the oven.

What should my crumb look like?

Most importantly, the crumb should look evenly airy from end to end, which tells us that the dough was appropriately aerated throughout its mass when it went into the oven. The flavor should be nutty, but not yeasty or sour.

What is good crumb structure?

Crumb structure is a type of soil structure in which the structural units or peds have a spheroidal or crumb shape. Crumb structure is often found in more porous than granular organo-mineral surface soil horizons and provides optimal pore space for soil fertility and reduce soil problems for agricultural cultivation.

What is crumb texture?

Crumb - The pattern and size of holes inside of a loaf. Artisan breads made with high hydration dough typically have an open and irregular crumb.

What is crumb structure?

Definition of crumb structure : a soil condition suitable for farming in which the soil particles are aggregated into crumbs.

How do you get airy crumb?

It's possible to achieve an open crumb by mixing with your hands or a mechanical mixer; you can have a light loaf of bread with a stiff preferment or a liquid version; and you can choose to proof your dough at room temperature or in the fridge overnight.

What does a tight crumb mean?

Bread makers use the words “open” and “closed” (or “tight”) to describe bubble sizes in a finished bread. An open crumb has a few really big holes (think European peasant bread), a tight crumb has lots and lots of tiny holes (think sandwich bread).

Why is my crumb so dense?

One of the most common mistakes is having a dough temperature that's too low for the starter to feed on all the flour in the dough, resulting in a crumb that's dense, with fewer openings. "Starter is happiest and most active at around 75 degrees. If it's a lot colder, the process will be much slower.

What does Underproofed bread look like?

The crumb structure of an under proofed loaf will be tight and gummy. Because it was not given enough time to develop and trap CO2 gasses, the crumb structure will be very dense, with uneven air bubbles.

How would you describe bread crumb?

In addition to assessing whether or not a crumb is open or closed, bakers may describe it as moist, crumbly, chewy, or sweet. The fermentation of the starter makes sourdough an open crumb bread. Several factors go into the creation of open crumb bread.

Why is a crumb structure important?

Crumb structure is an essential element in good baking. It affects the quality of a loaf and determines what type of bread bakeries produce.

How do you read crumbs?

5:0324:11How to Read a Sourdough Crumb: Underproofed or Overproofed?YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAreas the first thing is when we look at the loaf height and shape if your loaf is flat or pyramidalMoreAreas the first thing is when we look at the loaf height and shape if your loaf is flat or pyramidal in shape or sometimes it has a triangular type of top that typically means it's under proofed.

What is crumb grain?

]. Crumb grain has been defined in literature as the exposed cell structure of crumb when a leavened baked product is sliced [5.

What is Crumb Analysis?

Crumb analysis is the visual quantification of the sliced surface area of a baked product. This technique is used to observe the internal cellular structure of yeast- and chemically-leavened products to help assess their texture, sensory and eating qualities. 1

Origin

Traditional sensory evaluation of bread has relied on human panels which are time consuming, expensive and have a subjective nature of scoring. With the advancement of photography and computer vision analysis, large bakeries have gradually moved to more objective methods for describing textural properties of baked goods.

How does it work?

As an essential tool in Quality and R&D programs in large bakeries, crumb analysis is used to indicate possible inconsistencies in the ingredients or process of making breads and other baked goods. Since this analysis is not quantifiable by the human eye, it is done using image analysis techniques.

Application

Bakery products have a characteristic shape and definite texture that is expected by consumers. Any significant deviation from optimal characteristics of the product is often considered a quality defect.

General observations and guidelines for crumb analysis

The higher the number of cells along with higher mean cell area, the better the bread crumb porosity.

What does it mean to put a crumb coat on a cake?

Applying a crumb coat means your finished cake will never reveal its inner issues: the crumbly side, dimpled top, or that thumbprint you inadvertently made with your oven glove. A crumb coat smooths over every imperfection — literally — leaving a pristine surface upon which you can swirl, pipe, and style your remaining frosting.

How long to keep crumb coat cake in fridge?

Place your crumb coated cake in the fridge for another 20 minutes. You want the frosting to set and harden enough that you can apply frosting to it easily, without any drag or sticking. Hint: If you touch the crumb coat with the tip of your finger and your finger comes away clean, it's good to go.

How to flatten a cake with frosting?

Spread frosting completely over the top surface, going beyond the edge a bit of you like; you don’t need to be careful. Set the second layer atop the frosted bottom layer . Run a spatula around the cake to flatten any frosting that’s bulging out.

How to spread frosting on top of cake?

Use a metal offset spatula (if you have one), a nylon spreader, table knife, or your other favorite tool to spread the frosting atop the cake; you don’t need to worry about any crumbs, as this middle layer of frosting will obviously be hidden inside.

How long does it take for a cake to harden?

If it works with your schedule, place the cake in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours), for the frosting to chill and harden a bit. This interim step, while not crucial, means there’s no chance of the top layer sliding around on a slick of warm frosting as you try to apply your crumb coat.

Why do people bake cakes?

There are people who bake cakes — for the occasional birthday, office party, or just because it’s so fast and easy to go from “I NEED some chocolate” to chocolate Cake Pan Cake .

What is the purpose of a chilled cake?

The chilled cake is now ready for its crumb coat, whose ultimate goal is to capture and trap any stray crumbs, anchoring them in place preparatory to you adding the next layer of frosting.

What is a crumb coat?

A crumb coat is a very thin layer of icing used to “glue” crumbs down, seal in the cake’s moisture ( super useful when you need to store the cake before decorating it) and provide an even base for additional frosting. It’s basically a delicious primer for your cake masterpiece that keeps the cake on the cake side, and the icing on the icing side. Everyone in their own dance space.

What do you need to finish a fondant cake?

Getting a smooth finish on your fondant or buttercream cake is easier than you may think. All you need is a simple crumb coat

How to spread frosting on a cake?

Use an offset spatula to spread a thin layer of frosting over your cake. It should be thin enough that you can see the cake (and crumbs) through it. Don’t worry about visible crumbs, it’s all part of the process! Smooth the icing as best as you can and let it dry until it crusts over, or feels dry to the touch. The crumb coat should be dry before you apply the final layer of icing.

Can you continue icing after cake crumb coat?

At this point, continue icing the cake as you normally would and count on your trusty crumb coat to keep your cake surface from getting into your frosting. It’s a beautiful crumb-free thing.

Can you use buttercream icing on a cake?

If making a layered cake, level and tort the cake before you begin. You can use any kind of buttercream icing to crumb coat your cake, just make sure it is thin enough to not pull at ...

Can you use the same color icing for a star fill in?

If decorating a cake with a star fill-in, use the same color icing to crumb coat your cake. If using fondant, do one more layer of icing over your crumb coat before draping your fondant – this helps the fondant stick to the cake. Ready to try your spatula skills on a crumb coat of your own?

How much flour should I use for a crumb topping?

Two-thirds cup plus one tablespoon of flour seems like a pretty finicky measurement, but it’s the perfect amount that I’ve found to produce a crumb topping that’s, well, crumbly while not being too dry. Your goal is to have a crumb topping with a texture that can hold its shape when scattered over a dessert, yet isn’t too dry that larger crumbs disintegrate into sand.

What are the ingredients in a crumb topping?

If you’ve ever wondered how to make crumb topping, you’ll need four ingredients: brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, and flour. First the brown sugar and cinnamon and combined together in a bowl. You won’t need a huge mixing bowl or anything. I used a cereal bowl (the white one in the photos here) and it was the perfect fit for this batch ...

What do you mix brown sugar and cinnamon with?

Once the brown sugar and cinnamon are combined, you’ll mix in melted, unsalted butter. It’ll look preeeeetty liquid-y and not much like crumb topping at all at this point, but it will solidify perfectly once the flour is added.

How to measure flour?

To measure flour, I first stir the flour up in its canister or bag. Then with a large soup spoon I spoon it into the measuring cup, taking care not to pack it in. Once the measuring cup has a heap of flour in it, I’ll place it over top of the flour canister opening and using a straight edge (usually the handle of the spoon so as not to dirty another utensil), level off the flour with the excess falling back into the container. This way prevents too much flour from being added to a recipe from being packed into the measuring cup, leading to dry baked goods.

What desserts are hard to resist?

One dessert (or occasional brunch sweet treat) that’s hard for me to resist is crumb cake. Where I’m from, crumb cake is more crumb than cake, with a moderately-sized bottom layer of simple vanilla cake topped with a huge layer of crumbs. Sweet and buttery crumb cake crumbs.

Is nutritional information accurate?

Nutritional information is provided as an estimate. As it can vary due to many factors (brands used, quantities, etc.), we cannot guarantee its accuracy.

What does uneven baking mean?

Otherwise you’re looking at uneven baking, which means an uneven cake.

Why is baking important?

Baking is a science, and makes following the rules are a lot more important than you might think. (Photo, Roberto Caruso.) When something goes amiss in the kitchen, it’s important to understand what went wrong. When baking a cake, there are a lot of little things you can do to improve your odds of a winning finished product.

How to make a cake not dense?

Solution: Make sure you’re using wet measures for wet ingredients and dry measures for dry; check the freshness of your baking soda and powder, and check your oven temp to make sure it’s hot enough. A cake that bakes too slowly takes longer to set and may fall, causing a dense texture.

How to make a gateaus cake?

Whether you’re making the simplest of cakes or the most extravagant of gateaus, put a very thin layer of icing on the cake for starters. This layer glues down the crumbs. Chill the cake until that crumb coat is firm, then continue icing your cake. There shouldn’t be a crumb in sight.

Why is my cake dry?

The culprits for dry cake are ingredients that absorb moisture, such as flour or other starches, cocoa or any milk solids. A second, and equally damaging culprit, is over-baking. Solution: Ensure that you’re measuring your flour properly.

Why is my cake so tough?

You need to find the perfect speed, temperature and duration to form perfectly-sized little air cells to make the ideal texture. Toughness in cakes is caused by over-mixing, or the wrong type of flour. Solution: Mix your cake according to the recipe.

Why do you line the bottom of a cake pan with parchment?

By lining the bottom of the pan with parchment, you give yourself some added insurance that the cake will slide out after cooling. (Running a sharp knife between the inside of the pan and the cake is a good idea, too.)

How long does it take to whip up a cure all cake?

You'll spend less than a half hour whipping up this cure-all cake that starts with a mix. Sour cream and chocolate pudding make it rich and moist, and chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate make it decadent comfort food at its finest. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

How many layers are in a pecan dotted cake?

This recipe truly lives up to its name. The pecan-dotted cake is stacked in three layers, and made-from-scratch frosting is the crowning touch.—Karen R. Jones, Claypool, Indiana

What is the first layer of frosting called?

The secret to a swoon-worthy cake starts with the very first layer of frosting. It's called a crumb coat, and can turn your cake's presentation from "meh" to "marvelous"! A gorgeous homemade cake is a labor of love. From flour-dusting the pans to mixing, baking and cooling the cake itself, you’re already well into the second hour ...

What is the best marble cake?

Pound cake and chocolate make the best marble cake. — Ellen Riley, Birmingham, Alabama

What is the best cake you have ever eaten?

Pineapple Carrot Cake. This moist cake with cream cheese frosting is the best I've ever eaten. It's so simple, too, because it uses two jars of baby food instead of fresh carrots that need to be grated. —Jeanette McKenna, Vero Beach, Florida. Go to Recipe.

Do you need fancy equipment to turn a cake stand?

You don’t even need fancy equipment to pull it off. If you have a cake stand that you can easily turn as you work, all it really takes is patience. An offset spatula can make the task easier, too.

Can you skip the crumb coat?

It’s all too easy to jump right in with a generous dollop of frosting, but skipping the crumb coat isn’t recommended. Anyone who has ever botched a frosting job can relate!

What does it mean when a loaf of bread has an open crumb?

When I talk about a loaf with an open crumb, I mean a loaf that's light in hand and evenly (and appropriately) open in the interior — one whose light texture contributes to the overall eating experience. The ideal loaf doesn't have scattered, excessively large holes and dense spots, but rather clear, defined holes consistently dispersed throughout. Overall, an even interior is evidence of a baker’s skillful touch in balancing all the inputs that go into making a wonderful loaf of bread.

How to shape bread dough?

When it comes time to preshape, gently scrape the dough from the bulk fermentation container onto the counter and divide it in half. Preshape it with a light hand, just enough to get it into a round shape.

How to make sourdough bread healthy?

When baking sourdough bread, it’s essential to have vigorous fermentation in your dough — and healthy fermentation begins with your sourdough starter. To get the most out of your starter, feed it with flour and water on a timely schedule. I find my starter is healthiest if I keep it warm, around 74°F to 78°F, and feed it at least once every day — I ...

How to fold dough during bulk fermentation?

As seen above, when performing a fold with this recipe, I reach my damp hands down into my bulk fermentation container and very gently lift the dough in the middle and let the top and bottom of the dough fold under itself. Then I rotate the bowl and perform this gentle fold again.

Why is my bread dough so soft?

If too much water is added to a dough, I find it results in a loaf that's almost too soft, and too much mixing is required to ensure an adequate rise in the oven. Again, the more water in the dough, the more strengthening you'll have to do to ensure it traps gasses and retains structure.

How long to proof dough at room temperature?

If the interior still feels tight, give it another 30 minutes at room temperature and check again. Conversely, if the dough starts to feel very soft and weak, or you start seeing large bubbles beneath the surface emerge, it's time to get that dough into the oven.

What is the difference between a thin baguette and a thick miche?

A baguette tends to have an irregular and very open interior, whereas the miche, with its large symmetrical mass, is more closed.

Why is short bread crumbly?

Short bread is crumbly because it is "short;" that is to say, its ingredients and mixing method do not promote the development of gluten strands. Flour and sugar are creamed together with shortening, butter or a combination of both to coat the flour with fat and to inhibit gluten. Some recipes call for the use of corn meal, corn starch (flour) or rice flour in addition to wheat flour to promote that "short" texture. That crumbly, sandy texture is what makes shortbread shortbread as opposed to some other type of dough, batter or pastry.

Why won't my baked goods work?

If you try to do that with a baked good that’s has leavening, it usually won’t work. The undercooked center will have sunken or collapsed.

What does kneading do to your dough?

Kneading creates air pockets and gluten (a result of agitating wheat flour and water) for an nice crumb and chew. It also makes cookies, biscuits and pie dough tough.

Why do we poke holes in shortbread?

We pokes holes in Shortbread so that it Cooks evenly.

How many steps to make shortbread?

Recipe to make Delicious shortbread in just 4 steps!!

When is shortbread done baking?

Shortbread is generally done baking when it starts to turn a slight golden brown, especially along the edges (if it’s dark brown to black, you’ve cooked it too long, and if it’s still white throughout you haven’t baked it long enough). As a general rule of thumb for all baked goods, however, I often find that once you can smell them in the oven all throughout the kitchen, they’re very close to being ready. It’s at that point when you’ll want to start keeping a closer eye on what you’re baking, as they can be done in no time at all.

What does it mean when a sourdough bread turns brown?

If it’s still soft, doughy or malleable/pliable, it’s undercooked. If it starts turning brown, it ’s overcooked and will be hard to eat . If it’s brown or dark brown, bin it and start over.

image

Origin

Image
Traditional sensory evaluation of bread has relied on human panels which are time consuming, expensive and have a subjective nature of scoring. With the advancement of photography and computer vision analysis, large bakeries have gradually moved to more objective methods for describing textural properties of b…
See more on bakerpedia.com

How Does It Work?

  • As an essential tool in Quality and R&D programs in large bakeries, crumb analysis is used to indicate possible inconsistencies in the ingredients or process of making breads and other baked goods. Since this analysis is not quantifiable by the human eye, it is done using image analysis techniques. Uniformly sliced breads or cakes are photographed using a suitable camera with ad…
See more on bakerpedia.com

Application

  • Bakery products have a characteristic shape and definite texture that is expected by consumers. Any significant deviation from optimal characteristics of the product is often considered a quality defect. Textural and sensory properties of baked goods are defined by the crumb’s three-dimensional structure that is created by microscopic and macroscopic components of the form…
See more on bakerpedia.com

General Observations and Guidelines For Crumb Analysis

  1. The higher the number of cells along with higher mean cell area, the better the bread crumb porosity.
  2. Thin cell walls are prevalent in fine texture crumb while thick walls are dominant in coarse crumb.
  3. Industrial baguettes have higher porosity than denser whole wheat and traditional baguettes.
  1. The higher the number of cells along with higher mean cell area, the better the bread crumb porosity.
  2. Thin cell walls are prevalent in fine texture crumb while thick walls are dominant in coarse crumb.
  3. Industrial baguettes have higher porosity than denser whole wheat and traditional baguettes.
  4. Bread made with too much water or too little salt tends to have a highly porous structure with large cells like swiss-cheese structure.

References

  1. Cauvain, S.P. .The C-Cell image analysis system for objective measurement of bread quality. Proceedings of the ICC-SA/SACB Bread and Cereal Symposium, Johannesburg, South Africa ,2004, pp: 396-402.
  2. Whitworth, M., Cauvain, S. P. and Cliffe, D. Measurement of bread cell structure by image analysis. In Using cereal science and technology for the benefit of consumers, Proceedings o…
  1. Cauvain, S.P. .The C-Cell image analysis system for objective measurement of bread quality. Proceedings of the ICC-SA/SACB Bread and Cereal Symposium, Johannesburg, South Africa ,2004, pp: 396-402.
  2. Whitworth, M., Cauvain, S. P. and Cliffe, D. Measurement of bread cell structure by image analysis. In Using cereal science and technology for the benefit of consumers, Proceedings of the 12th Inte...
  3. AACC Method 10-18-01. Measurement of crumb structure of baked products by C-Cell. Baking Quality. AACC Approved Methods of Analysis, 11th edition.
  4. Magdić, D., Horvat, D., Drezner, G.,  Jurković, Z. and Šimić, G. Image analysis of bread crumb structure in relation to gluten strength of wheat.  Poljoprivreda, 2006, 12, 1, pp: 58-62.