Should You Get the Brød & Taylor Folding Proofer?

The Brød & Taylor Folding Proofer & Slow Cooker has long been a go-to tool of serious home bakers and cooks who dabble in other fermented foods, such as yogurt. It’s even advertised as a slow cooker, reaching temperatures of 195 degrees Fahrenheit. We wanted to see if it makes a significant difference in the ease and quality of proofing dough, and we were curious about its additional functions. So we put it to the test.

• Easy Set Up and Storage: The proofing box was very simple to set up. There are only a few parts to put together: the base, the walls, the lid, an optional rack that you place your food container on so it isn’t in direct contact with the hot plate, and an optional water tray for adding humidity to the box. The walls are foldable so they pack up flat to store. 

• Simple Operation: The control panel on the proofer has just a few buttons, which are clearly labeled and easy to use. You use the power button to turn the machine on and off and another button to toggle between proofing and slow-cooking modes. The other buttons let you increase or decrease the temperature as needed. 
• Makes Proofing Easy and Consistent: The proofing box is designed to control the temperature of the food being fermented or cooked, not the ambient temperature. It can operate in a range from 70 to 195 degrees Fahrenheit and for hours on end, which is necessary for long-running projects, such as proofing sourdough, fermenting kombucha or yogurt, and slow cooking. For the most part, the proofer did a good job of maintaining steady temperatures, with small fluctuations. This helped ensure perfectly proofed loaves every time and guaranteed that proofing took a reasonable amount of time even when the kitchen temperature was cold. Compared to our go-to hack of adding a pan of boiling water to a turned-off oven, the proofer is hands-off and doesn’t require any adjustments, even when running it for 8 hours or more.

• Large Capacity: We liked that we were able to fit a wide range of containers in the proofing box, from a 9 by 13-inch baking dish to a Dutch oven to a 6-quart stock pot. It enabled us to make 2 kilograms of bread dough and slow-cooked beef stew for eight people.

• Versatility: The proofer’s temperature-controlled environment means it’s great for other fermentation projects. We successfully made great homemade yogurt. We even used its slow-cook setting to successfully make beef stew. 
• Humidity Tray: The humidity tray helps to prevent bread dough from drying out and keeps a skin from forming on top, eliminating the need to cover your bowl.

• Fussy Lid: Many bread recipes require you to periodically manipulate the dough throughout proofing. Because the proofer’s lid doesn’t snap or click into place, we had a difficult time getting the lid to close tightly, which got tiresome when we had to open the proofer frequently. It also made us worry that heat was escaping.

• Learning Curve: Because the proofer controls food temperature, not ambient temperature, it takes some practice to find the best temperature setting for the food you’re making. The temperature itself may not always be accurate. Although the temperature didn’t deviate much from the one we set when we were proofing bread, it rose a lot higher than expected when we were slow-cooking beef stew, reaching 212 degrees, far beyond the 195 degrees to which we’d set the proofer. This wasn’t a deal-breaker, but it meant we had to keep tabs on the temperature with a thermometer. If exact temperature is important for a specific recipe, you may want to use an instant-read thermometer to check your dough (or other food) and adjust the temperature up or down accordingly. 
• Slow Cooking Only Works in Specific Cookware: Slow cooking in the folding proofer only works well if you use the cookware Brød & Taylor specifically recommend: stainless-steel vessels with flat bottoms. We were able to use our favorite tri-ply stainless-steel pot to make great beef stew, but when we used a cast-iron Dutch oven, the proofer couldn’t get the stew hot enough to cook properly.

The Brød & Taylor Folding Proofer and Slow Cooker is a great investment for people who make a lot of bread, especially with recipes that proof for many hours. In most regions, the cooler temperature of our homes during winter can significantly impede the proofing process and make it take much longer. The proofer ensures a warmer temperature for a long period of time, supporting proper proofing and helping bakers to churn out consistently gorgeous breads. Its ability to create a stable, warm environment is also ideal for other fermentation projects, such as yogurt or kombucha. The proofer requires significant space—it’s about the size of a microwave when fully set up—so it may not be realistic for all kitchens, but it folds up nice and flat and is easy to store when not in use.