The Library / When it goes wrong

Stuck to the basket

Rice flour, more of it than seems necessary, and a dough that went in with a dry, floured surface.

Why

Wheat flour absorbs moisture from the dough and turns to paste overnight, which glues the loaf to the cane. Rice flour doesn't form that paste, so it stays loose. A new basket also needs seasoning: a few bakes' worth of flour worked into the grooves before it releases cleanly.

Further down

Condensation in the fridge makes it worse. Cover the basket with a cloth or a shower cap, never tight plastic directly on the dough. If a loaf does stick, don't shake it: turn the basket over and let its own weight pull it out over a minute, easing the edge with a finger.

Updated 7 October 2026