DIY Proofer Ideas

[littlegirltree]

Just wondering what your experience has been w/ different proofing techniques for last-minute dough prep.  I've tried the humid microwave before and I was wondering if a dishwasher just after being cycled would possibly work?  My experience w/ the microwave was kinda messy - I ended up w/ the condensation gathering and laking from underneath the oven in an ugly rust-colored bog.  Thanks! ^_^

[Bryan S]

As a proofer, i just use the oven. I turn it on for about 15-20 seconds and turn it back off. I then put the dough in with the oven light turned on and It'll hold right around 100-105 degrees. You might have to play around with the length of time you leave the oven on, but i find the 15-20 second range to work good with my oven. HTH, Bryan

[pkasten]

Hmm.. for an aesthetically pleasing proof box, how about a small acrylic aquarium with incandescent or metal halide lighting on a dimmer switch? 

If these bulbs generate enough heat to warm the water when improperly used, they should be able to raise the ambient in an empty aquarium to a suitable temperature. 

The acrylic would insulate better than glass, and you would be able to monitor your dough without opening the box.

To increase humidity, you could put an inch or so of water in the tank and hold your dough on an elevated rack.

paul

[pkasten]

another fish tank suggestion...

Mount a heater on the inside of the fish tank, so that you can run it with the tank half full.  Set a shelf in that will sit above the water line.  It has been years since I owned a fish tank, but if I remember correctly, you can't get much above the mid nineties with those heaters, but perhaps with two of them you could.  Naturally, you'd want this rig plugged into a GFI outlet.  Here's a silly looking drawing....

[November]

pkasten,

You actually gave me an idea based on using an aquarium that would qualify as having a higher DIY value.  I wasn't able to quickly locate my supply of activated carbon (used in fish tank maintenance) to run tests on it, so I can't give you any numbers yet, but you should be able to lay down a bed of moist activated carbon on the bottom of the tank and run a current through it to cause it to generate heat from the electrical resistance and evaporate the moisture to fill the tank.  If I can find my activated carbon and run some tests, I will report back.  I know it will work with some level of moisture and particle size, but I have to confirm what those levels are.

- red.november

[pkasten]

ahah!  that reminds me that in indoor mushroom cultivation, a layer of moistened perlite can be laid at the base to humidify the tank.

paul

[Jack]

November,

So are you going to vary the current, voltage or frequency to control the heat?  <grin>

Jack, enginerd

[November]

So are you going to vary the current, voltage or frequency to control the heat?  <grin>

I'm going to control the power (measured in Joules per second or Watts): P = VI

- red.november

[Garlic head]

I'm going to control the power (measured in Joules per second or Watts): P = VI

- red.november

If you're dealing with AC then we should throw in power factor and efficiency.
P=V*I*PF*EFF

[November]

If you're dealing with AC then we should throw in power factor and efficiency.
P=V*I*PF*EFF

Why?  It's a purely resistive circuit.

[Garlic head]

Why?  It's a purely resistive circuit.

You are correct. Never mind.

[November]

You are correct. Never mind.

You should still get an "A" for effort.