Will skin formation ruin my bread?

Not necessarily. The skin may cause uneven oven spring or irregular scoring expansion, but the bread will still be edible. Misting and scoring can mitigate the effects.

Can I still score dough with a skin?

Yes, but use a sharp blade and score decisively. The cut will open during baking. Misting before scoring helps the blade glide.

Does a skin affect cold proofing?

In the refrigerator, dough dries out more slowly due to lower evaporation. Still cover tightly, but skin formation is less of a concern than at room temperature.

Skin Forming

Proofing

When dough develops a dry skin during proofing, it affects oven spring and creates an uneven crust. The skin cannot expand properly when steam hits it in the oven. Preventing and fixing this issue is straightforward.

Try This Right Now

1Lightly mist the dough surface with water using a spray bottle
2Cover tightly with plastic wrap or a damp towel
3Score through any skin—the cut will open during baking

Detailed Solutions

Moisture Treatment

Easy

Rehydrate the surface before baking.

Mist dough surface lightly with water
Let sit for 5 minutes
Mist again if skin persists
Score and bake immediately

Oil Application

Easy

Apply oil to prevent further drying.

Brush surface lightly with olive oil
This softens existing skin
Cover tightly for remaining proof
Score through oiled surface

Why This Happens

Skin forms when the dough surface loses moisture to the air faster than it can be replaced from within. Contributing factors include: Proofing uncovered or poorly covered, Low humidity environment, Air conditioning or heating removing moisture, Proofing too long without cover, Using a cloth cover instead of plastic.

Prevention for Next Time

Always cover proofing dough tightly with plastic wrap or a lid
Use a banneton with a shower cap cover for easy sealing
Oil the plastic wrap to prevent sticking and seal moisture
In dry environments, proof in a closed container or proof box

Related Issues

Having other problems? Check out these related troubleshooting guides.

Underproofed Overproofed Pale Crust No Ear