Lame (kitchen tool)

A lame with plastic handle and protective cover

A lame /ˈlɑːm, ˈlæm/ is a double-sided blade that is used to slash the tops of bread loaves in artisan baking. A lame is used to score (also called slashing or docking) bread just before the bread is placed in the oven. Often the blade's cutting edge will be slightly concave-shaped, which allows users to cut flaps (called shag) considerably thinner than would be possible with a traditional straight razor.

A slash on the loaf's surface allows the dough to properly expand in the oven without tearing the skin or crust and also allows moisture to escape from the loaf. It also releases some of the gas, mainly carbon dioxide, that is trapped inside the dough. Proper scoring also allows the baker to control exactly where the loaf will open or bloom. This significantly improves the appearance of baked breads. Scoring, finally, creates varieties in forms and appearance. It brings out the bread baker's artistic talent, allowing a unique signature.

Scored loaves of artisan French-style country bread

These loaves of Rye bread demonstrate several different kinds of scoring patterns.

References

Jeffrey Hamelman (2004). Bread: A Baker's Book of Techniques and Recipes, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 978-0-471-16857-7
REINHART, P. (1998). Crust & Crumb: Master Formulas for Serious Bread Bakers, Ten Speed Press

Bread

Types	Brown bread Chapati Flatbread Injera Multigrain bread Naan Paratha Pitta Quick Rye bread Salt-rising Sandwich bread Soda bread Sourdough Texas toast Unleavened White bread Whole wheat

Ingredients	Baker's yeast Barm Calcium propanoate Eggs Fat Flour Flour treatment agent Leavening agent Milk Salt Sugar Water

Equipment	Oven Bread machine Bread pan Dough scraper Farinograph Lame Peel Stand mixer Weighing scales

Processes	Autolysis Baking Biga Chorleywood bread process Kneading Leavening Maillard reaction No-knead bread Proofing Pre-ferment Pre-slicing Sponge and dough Steaming Straight dough Vienna process

Uses	Bread crumbs Bread bowl Bread pudding Croutons French toast Stuffing Sandwiches Toast

Other	Breadmaking Baker percentage Bread in Europe History of bread

List articles	American breads Brand name breads Bread dishes Bread rolls British breads Buns Indian breads Pakistani breads Quick breads Sweet breads

Category

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