How do I know when I should stop kneading my dough?
August 7 2024 12:15pmIf your dough is kneaded too much, it will become tough and chewy. To prevent this from happening, follow the tips below:
Tip 1. Do the finger test
Press your dough with your finger. If the indentation stays, the dough needs to be kneaded more. If it springs back into its original shape, you've kneaded your dough enough. This applies to all sizes of dough balls.
Individual dough ball.
Large bulk dough.
Tip 2. Check the texture
Before you knead your dough, it will look sticky and rough. As you knead, it will smooth out. You'll know your dough is ready when it has a smooth texture.
Tip 3. Do the windowpane test
Stretch a section of dough between your fingers. If the dough tears, it needs to be kneaded more. If it stretches without tearing (making a windowpane of sorts), your dough is ready.
Early stages of window pane test. Knead a little more and let it rest.
Once rested you should see and feel a difference in the dough.
Once you've determined that your dough has been kneaded enough, it's time to allow it to rest.
For more tips on dough-making, check out our Ooni app.