Just realized I was overmixing my banana bread the whole time

My neighbor Karen told me my banana bread was tough, and she said I was probably overworking the gluten. I tried her tip to just stir until the flour disappears, and it came out so much softer. Has anyone else had a neighbor call them out on their baking?

2 comments

2 Comments

drew_grant5211d ago

Karen might have a point about not overmixing but I actually always beat my banana bread batter for a good two minutes straight with a wooden spoon. My grandmother taught me that you need to develop the gluten to get that nice dome on top and a tender crumb that holds together. Overmixing is definitely real if you are using cake flour or pastry flour, but all purpose flour can take a beating. Plus nobody wants banana bread that crumbles into dust the second you slice it. If your neighbor prefers muffin textured bread then sure stir less, but real banana bread should have some chew to it.

anna_coleman11d ago

@drew_grant52 It's like how everyone has a Strong Opinion on.. everything, honestly.