I recently purchased my first couche from Breadtopia and I am wondering if there is some kind of conditioning process that I should use to take out some of the stiffness? Finding it very hard to keep a fold, even when I mist the underside, and load up with sifted flour. As a result, my baguettes are spreading out and not holding shape. The loaves are sticking.
Or just what happens until the couche is broken in over time?
Now, that I have some sticky residue on my new couche, should I really just scrape off the remnants as directed or should I wash it out by hand? Resisting washing so far (as it does say NEVER wash) but wondering if that might also solve the stiff folds problem.
Help!