Here’s the quirky part. Most ovens have a “proof setting” that stays around 80-100°F (27-38°C). If yours doesn’t, you turn on the light bulb inside. That tiny bulb? It generates just enough warmth to make dough happy.
Some bakers put a pan of boiling water on the bottom rack. The steam creates a mini tropical rainforest. Your dough loves this. It’s like a vacation in a bread bucket.
Fun fact: If your dough dries out in the oven, it forms a crust. A crust prevents rising. That’s a tragedy. So steam is your hero.
