Kitchen Lab Notes • high hydration • no knead • repeatable

84% Hydration No-Knead Focaccia

A controlled-fermentation focaccia built for repeatability: six fold cycles replace kneading, proofing is interval-driven, and a fat-layer pan base creates a crisp shallow-fry underside. Center-rack bake prevents bottom scorch.

Total time: ~6h
Active: ~1h
Hydration: 84%
Folds: 6
Bake: 450°F
Rack: Middle
Preflight Ingredients Process Engineering Notes Serving
Finished focaccia

Preflight Requirement: Mise en Place

Before a single gram of flour touches water: all ingredients must be weighed, measured, grated, and staged.

No mid-process scrambling. No “where’s the salt.” No grating Parmesan during fermentation windows. This build runs on timed intervals; process control matters.

And I have a very particular set of skills. Skills I acquired over a long career of watching people ignore mise en place. If you prep your ingredients now, that’ll be the end of it. I will not look for you. I will not pursue you. But if you open a spice cabinet mid-fold… I will find you.

System Overview

This recipe is written like an instrument panel: inputs are weighed, the process runs on a clock, and visual checkpoints verify state.

T=0Mix + 30m rest
Folds6 sets / 30m
Rest30m stabilization
PanStretch + proof
DimpleOil + toppings
Bake10 + rotate + 10–12

Key correction: bake on the middle rack. Bottom rack + oil-heavy pan base can scorch the underside.

Ingredient Specification

ComponentSpec
Flour (King Arthur preferred)250g AP + 250g Bread flour
Salt (Diamond Kosher)12g
Instant yeast10g
Water420g @ 103°F
Olive oil30g (plus more for pan + finishing)
Optional pre-mix flavor layer 1 tsp rubbed Spanish rosemary; 2 tsp French thyme; 2 tsp dried basil; 1/2 tsp roasted garlic powder; 1 TBSP microplaned Parmesan
Optional toppings (pre-bake) 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar + 1/4 cup grated Parmesan (mix together first to prevent cheddar clumping); cherry tomatoes; rosemary sprigs; mushrooms (pre-sautéed); garlic (pre-sautéed); Maldon flaky finishing salt (light sprinkle)

Hardware: dutch whisk • food scale • large metal bowl • 9x13 pan • cooling rack

Build Process (with checkpoints)

STEP 1

Initial Mix

Whisk dry ingredients until fully distributed. Add 103°F water + olive oil. Mix until a wet shaggy mass forms. Cover and rest 30 minutes.

  • Expected: messy, sticky, uneven surface
  • Fail condition: dry flour pockets hiding at bowl bottom
Step 1 shaggy dough
Post-mix state: high hydration, cohesive but not dough-like yet. Correct behavior.
STEP 2

First Fold

Wet hands. Lift half the dough from underneath and fold over. Rotate 90° and repeat until 4 folds total. Cover and rest 30 minutes.

  • Goal: introduce surface tension
  • Observation: dough starts centralizing
After fold 1
After fold 1: structure phase initiated. Mass becomes cohesive.
STEP 3

Remaining Fold Cycles (x5)

Repeat the fold set every 30 minutes until you hit 6 total fold sets. After fold 6, rest 30 minutes to stabilize before pan transfer.

  • Fold 4 is the cohesion inflection point
  • Fold 6 is final reinforcement
After fold 6
After fold 6: taut dome, strong gluten matrix, high gas retention.
MILESTONE

Fold 4 Checkpoint

This is the typical point where the system stops being chaotic and starts behaving like dough. Surface smoothing and bowl cleanup are expected.

After fold 4
After fold 4: structural integrity achieved. From here you refine tension.
STEP 4

Pan Transfer + Final Proof

Prep pan with spray. Optional: 2 tsp melted butter + 2 TBSP olive oil for crisp underside. Transfer dough, fold into thirds, gently stretch to edges. Cover and proof ~1 hour until doubled.

  • Expect corner fill and vertical expansion
  • Stop at doubled + aerated surface (no collapse)
In pan pre-final proof
In pan, pre-final proof: relaxed but structured. Corners will fill during rise.
STEP 5

Proof Complete

Dough should be fully expanded to edges with visible gas pockets. If under, extend proof 15–30 minutes. Proceed to dimpling at peak aeration without collapse.

Final proof complete
Final proof complete: full expansion and visible gas pockets. Ideal dimpling window.
STEP 6

Dimpling + Toppings

Oil fingertips and press deep dimples to create compression valleys without tearing. Apply toppings:

  • Cheddar + Parmesan: mix cheeses before topping (prevents cheddar clumping)
  • Mushrooms/garlic: sauté first to remove moisture, cool before topping
  • Drizzle olive oil lightly; sprinkle Maldon flaky salt lightly
Dimpled and topped
Dimpled + topped: dimples remain defined; gas domes preserved; cheese distributed evenly.
STEP 7

Bake (Center Rack)

Bake at 450°F (230°C) on the middle rack. Bake 10 minutes, rotate 180°, bake 10–12 minutes more until deeply golden.

  • Do not open oven before 10 minutes
  • Bottom rack can scorch underside due to oil-heavy base
Bake complete
Bake complete: blistered golden surface, integrated cheese browning, intact domes.
STEP 8

Immediate Extraction + Rest

Remove from pan immediately and cool on a rack to prevent steam-softening the bottom. Drizzle lightly with olive oil while hot. Rest 30 minutes before cutting to stabilize crumb.

Crumb cross section
Crumb audit: even rise, open but controlled alveoli, no compressed/gummy base layer.

Engineering Notes

The recipe behaves like a system. These are the load-bearing constraints.

  • Hydration: 84% (supported by fold architecture)
  • Fold sets: 6 (replaces kneading; builds tension gradually)
  • Bottom crisp: fat layer in pan creates shallow-fry effect
  • Bottom burn avoidance: bake middle rack
  • Cheese uniformity: mix cheddar + Parmesan before topping
  • Moisture control: sauté mushrooms/garlic before topping

Troubleshooting

Too flat after proof: under-folded or under-proofed; extend proof and verify fold cadence.

Dense/gummy base: left in pan to cool or wet toppings added raw; extract immediately and sauté toppings.

Burned underside: bottom rack, dark pan, or excessive pan oil at high heat; use middle rack and calibrate pan fat layer.

Cheddar clumps: apply mixed cheeses; avoid dumping cheddar solo.

Serving Architecture

Plain: fully sufficient. Dip: olive oil + cracked pepper + Parmesan. Tapenade: slice and spread. Day-old: 4-inch squares, split, fill with Italian meats + cheese, press as panini.

Document version: v1.0 • Built from a real batch with photo-verified checkpoints.