Appreciation post: A lady at the farmer's market in Boise showed me a better way to handle sticky dough

I was selling some sourdough last Saturday and my hands were a total mess trying to shape a really wet batch (it was about 85% hydration). This older woman, who runs the pie stand, just leaned over and said, 'Keep a bowl of water next to your bench, not flour.' I tried it right then, and my hands just slid off the dough without adding extra flour and making it tough. Has anyone else picked up a simple trick like that from another vendor?

3 comments

3 Comments

umac712mo ago

Huh, I've always found wet hands just make the dough stick to me worse.

robinson.jake2mo ago

Maybe you're not using enough water?

gray_roberts1mo ago

Ever think it's about the type of flour? Some dough needs a really light touch with wet hands, not a grab.