TechniqueBeginner

Windowpane Test

Windowpane Test: dough stretched thin and translucent between fingers
Stretch a piece of dough thin. If light shows through without it tearing, the gluten is developed.

A technique to check if gluten is fully developed. You gently stretch a small piece of dough between your fingers; if it stretches thin enough to let light through without tearing (like a windowpane), the gluten is ready.

By Henry Hunter · Updated

Henry's notes from the bench

  • Don't skip this! If the dough tears instantly, keep mixing. If you bake before this stage, your bread will be dense.

Watch it at the bench

Windowpane | Crust & Crumb Word of the Day #breadbaking #artisanbread #sourdoughbread #homebaking
Teaching Bakers to Think: The Art of Enriched Dough | Cinnamon Rolls Week at Crust & Crumb Academy
How to knead and bake a loaf of bread
Report a correction for this termCorrection inbox owner: Henry Hunter · Reply within 7 days

Go deeper

BakingGreatBread.blog
How to Braid a Round Challah That Holds Its Shape

Also covered in

More related reading (5)

Sources

  • King Arthur Baking
  • The Perfect Loaf