Paolo,
Can you clarify the fermentation protocol you followed, including the time of the dough in bulk and the time in the ball stage?
And can you comment on what you thought of the pizzas and the two flours, and whether you found reballing the RD dough balls to be helpful?
Peter
Peter here are my observations......
First of all......yes, it wasn't a perfect experiment as soon as I reballed all the RD as per Jackies suggestion. Now, don't get me wrong, I am glad I followed his advise because otherwise the RD would have created a miserable mess of a pizza, (way too spread out......)
Second of all..... I am a newby at this pizza making thing.... it is my new hobby, not my profession, so although it may not be the perfect experiment, I never stated I was competing for the "Pizza making experiment Nobel Price". Take it for what it is, have fun with it and don't get bent out of shape..... (and you know who I am specifically referring to.....)
Fermentation/baking protocol:
25 hrs total bulk at 65F
Balled at 65F for 7 hrs then
Refridgerated balls for 5 hrs
Brought them back at 65F for 3 hrs
Reballed the RD
Let everything settle at 65F for another 4hrs before baking
Alternated doughs in the baking process, while let the dough stand outside on deck (in dough trays) at about 55F
Results:
None of the guests could tell the difference in taste, they were all equally devoured.......
My observations:
The RD was harder to stretch, had to handle it like the pizzaioli in Naples to get it to stretch (not necessarely a bad thing), the Caputo was easier to stretch because softer and airier.....
The cornicione on the RD didn't look to me as developed as the Caputo, but it probably was because of the reballing technique (should be gentler next time)
Leopardization was similar, with slightly more on the Caputo
Taste, I could not tell the difference myself......
Would I reball the RD again? Yes, I probably would be a bit more gentle in the process and give it more time between the second reballing to baking.
I also think, as already noted, that the RD would probably benefit from less hydration
My humble conclusions:
1) I need more practice with the RD
2) If I only had the RD to work with, I would still be a happy man
3) On a blind taste, only very few exclusive palates (I wouldn't be one of them) could probably tell the difference between the RD and Caputo
4) Is there a justification for a $50 premium per 55lbs bag for the Caputo? NO
5) At similar prices I would prefer the Caputo, but it is probably because I have had more time to work with it over the past 3 months
6) More experiments are necessary, but I think from the criticism of some, I need to keep my future experiments results private for my mentors....
That is all folks..... I did learn from many of you and for the harsh criticism.......I totally ignored it.......
Thank you all for your inputs, till next time......
Ohhhhhhhh..... I almost forgot.......
Pizzas labeled 1 were RD dough, 2 were Caputo dough......