How to Master The Window Pane Test: Fresh Milled Flour Secret

How to Master the Window Pane Test with Fresh Milled Flour: Tips and Techniques

If you’re an avid baker, you know that achieving the perfect bread dough can be a bit tricky at times. One important step in bread-making, especially with freshly milled flour, is mastering the “window pane test.”

What Is The Window Pane Test?

The Window Pane Test is a method of checking whether the dough has been kneaded enough to develop gluten. But, did you know that using fresh milled flour can make a big difference in your window pane test results? Fresh milled flour can be a little more difficult to obtain the window pane stage. I want to provide tips, tricks, and techniques for mastering the window pane test with this special ingredient. I have a wonderful simple sandwich bread recipe that I use all the time, and gets me the window pane each time, HERE is that recipe.

Benefits Of Fresh Milled Flour

Fresh milled flour is made by grinding whole grains (typically whole wheat berries/kernels) into flour just before using it in a recipe. Unlike commercially milled and processed flour, which can sit on store shelves for months, fresh milled flour retains most of its nutrients and flavor. Using fresh milled flour in bread-making can result in a richer, more complex flavor and a better rise. And, because the bran (main source of fiber in wheat berries) stays in the flour, this also affect the outcome of your window pane test, making it more difficult to achieve the desired result.

Tips for Mastering the Window Pane Test While Using Fresh Milled Flour

1. Knead the bread dough until it becomes smooth and elastic.
2. To perform the window pane test, gently pull a section of dough and stretch it out thin enough to see light through it without tearing. (It is important to be gentle with the dough, because of the bran, it can tear easily.) But, once you have felt a successful window pane you will be able to tell the difference.
3. If the bread dough stretches without tearing and you can see light through it, you’ve passed the window pane test and the gluten has been properly developed. Now, it is ready to let sit and rise.

Techniques for Using Fresh Milled Flour

1. Use a dough hook on a stand mixer to knead the dough. (I am not saying it is impossible to do this by hand, but using a stand mixer will greatly benefit you while making bread with fresh milled flour.)
2. The time for kneading varies GREATLY! Some will only have to knead for 10 minutes, and others may need 20-30 minutes. (this varies on kind of grain, type of mixer, humidity, elevation, experience, time, etc.)
3. Check on the dough from time to time while kneading, and watch for a change in texture. It will become smooth and stretchy.
4. Experiment with different types of fresh milled flour, such as mixing Kamut or spelt into a hard wheat variety, to achieve different flavors and textures in your bread.

What To Do If My Dough Is Not Reaching The Window Pane?

I have come up with three different tricks to use when your dough just doesn’t seem to be forming a window pane.

1. First and foremost, knead it longer! I have found that fresh milled flour needs to be kneaded so much longer than commercial flour. (If using processed white flour, over kneading can be an issue, but I find that over kneading is a rare issue with fresh milled flour.)
2. Add Some liquid! If your dough is too dry, it will NEVER reach the window pane completely. I will add some room temperature water and slowly mix that in. Freshly milled wheat is thirsty! It will take on more liquid as the kneading goes on.
3. This is my last resort, and rarely use it. But, another option is to add vital wheat gluten to your dough. This will add gluten to the dough making a window pane easier. I don’t even use this option anymore, but I know many who still do with great results. I find that option 1 or 2 will fix it every time! Just be patient, and don’t rush the process.

What If I Don’t Have Time, and Just Bake Before It Reaches The Window Pane?

If you are out of time, and can’t get the window pane, and you have exhausted all the options above, you can go ahead a proceed. Your bread will still be good, and nothing will be wrong with it. The window pane just will help with a lighter fluffier squishier loaf, more like the kind you remember buying at the store. I will be honest, there are times my family will crave a bit of a denser loaf to hold up to eating with soups or stews. I this case, I will purposely under knead my bread to give me that heartier denser bread loaf. But, generally when I am making sandwich bread or any other bread, I love the light and fluffy texture the successful window pane test brings!

Mastering the window pane test with fresh milled flour will take your bread-making skills to the next level. By following these tips and techniques, you can achieve the perfect bread dough every time. To learn more about milling your own flour watch my Fresh Milled Flour 101 Video HERE

Or start by checking out my blog post on Fresh Milled Flour 101 HERE

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