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Dough rises best in a warm, moist,
draft-free spot. The ideal temperature is 85 degrees F. This is warmer
than most homes, but there are several ways to create the right
environment. Fill a heat-proof bowl with boiling water and let it stand
while you prepare the dough. Throw out the water, dry the bowl, and let
the dough rise in the warm bowl. Alternatively, you could fill a large
stockpot with a couple of inches of tepid (not hot) water. Place the
covered bowl of dough inside and cover the pot.
You can also boil a cup of water in a
microwave oven for 2 minutes, place it in a corner of the microwave
oven, then put in the covered bread dough and close the door. Or run the
dishwasher on the rinse cycle, wait a few minutes, then place the
covered dough inside. You can even pre-heat your oven for 2 minutes,
then turn it off and place the covered dough inside. For steam, place a
baking pan on the bottom shelf of the oven and pour a teakettle of
boiling water into the pan. When using these microwave oven, dishwasher,
or conventional oven techniques, it is best to tape over the controls or
knobs so that no one would accidentally turns the appliances on.
Another option is to place the bowl of dough
on a warm radiator, using a towel as insulation under the bowl, and
cover the bowl with another towel. Or place the bowl on top of your
refrigerator, toward the back, where the running motor gives off a bit
of heat. For a food processor dough, after it is kneaded in the machine,
simply replace the cover and set the covered work bowl in a warm place
to rise.
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