SCIENCE DEEP-DIVE

Why Water Roux Makes For a Soft(er) Donut

FoodCrumbles.com

September, 2021

What is water roux?

01.

A thick moist paste, made by mixing and heating water and wheat flour!

Flour Bag
Thermometer
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Making Water Roux

02.

1) Weigh 1 part of flour (e.g. 50g)

2) Weigh 5 parts of water (e.g. 250g)

3) Mix!

Making Water Roux

02.

Heat up your mixture!

It will thicken

and start to bubble

Thermometer

and thicken even more!

Why does it thicken?

Wheat flour contains a lot of starch.

Science Intermezzo

When heated in water, starch gelatinizes.

During gelatinization:

Why does it thicken?

Wheat flour contains a lot of starch.

Science Intermezzo

When heated in water, starch gelatinizes.

During gelatinization: 1) starch granules swell with water and break, releasing starch molecules 2) these bind moisture, thickening the liquid!

So what about that donut?

03.

Research claims that the water roux will:

1) Slow down staling (keeping your donuts fresh longer!)

2) Lower hardness = softer donut

3) Improve cohesiveness

Heptagram

How to make a water roux donut

04.

Step 1: Make the water roux

Thermometer

Step 2: Leave it to cool down

Use 5-10% of the overall flour to make the roux, or go up to 20%!

How to make a water roux donut

04.

Step 3: Make your donut dough, incorporate the water roux!

Step 4: Continue as you would for a 'normal' yeast donut:

- Proof

- Shape

How to make a water roux donut

04.

- Proof

- Shape

- Proof

- Fry

- Decorate!

- Enjoy :-)