Why do we need to score the bread

Most bread bakers score the dough with a blade (or

lame⁠

) to create a weak point and direct the rapid expansion. Without this step, dough can open in unexpected areas and in a rather chaotic manner. We sometimes desire this type of ragged opening, but if you want the optimal height in a controlled and consistent manner, scoring is the way to go.

Scoring bread dough is yet another part of the baking process where we can each leave our own individual touch on the final baked loaf. Some bakers opt for a single, long slash (my favorite), whereas others prefer lots of small slashes that together form a beautiful, artistic design. Regardless of the scoring choice, the goal is to guide the dough into rising predictably, consistently, and optimally.

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