A bread couche is a bed made of stiff fabric for shaped bread dough to rise in. It is used for bread that is baked free-standing, not in pans. It helps the dough keep its shape while proofing and rising.
Cloths
Cheesecloth
Cheesecloth is a loosely-woven cotton cloth that is used to wrap cheese in. In the kitchen, it is used for straining and draining, and for making small spice bags.
Oshibori
Oshibori are the hot, damp cotton towels that are given to you before a meal on airlines, in Japanese restaurants, and in a few of the more expensive Chinese restaurants, etc. They are for washing your hands at the table.
Pastry Cloth
A pastry cloth is a cloth on which you roll out dough. Its purpose is to minimize sticking, and allow you to therefore roll the dough thinner. A pastry cloth also allows you to lift fragile pie crusts (such as those made of wholewheat / aka wholemeal) over the pie tin, and invert it. What…
Pastry Cloth Pad
A Pastry Cloth Pad is a large pad usually made of rubber. You place it on the counter, and place your pastry cloth on top of it, and then for the full outfitting, a rolling pin cover over top the rolling pin. The pads, generally around 24 by 20 inches (60 by 50 cm), help…
Rolling Pin Cover
A rolling pin cover is a long tube of stretchable cloth, like a sock open at both ends, made of cotton. You put it onto and over a rolling pin to cover the roller part completely, and then brush some flour on the cloth. Its purpose is to help prevent dough from sticking to the…