Oven thermostatted down to 30C? Or otherwise using oven for proving bread dough?

[ClickyPenguin]

We need a new (built-in single) oven and I'd like one that with a thermostat that goes down to 30C, or has plate warming or similar function, to supply a warm place for proving bread etc. (No airing cupboard in this house alas.)

This information doesn't tend to be on retailers' websites and I'm getting bored of searching for and trawling through manuals.

One manual suggested you can heat the oven (not hot), turn it off but leave the interior light on and this will maintain a temperature suitable for making yogurt so I guess with a bit of trial and error a similar thing could work for bread?

I've done this method littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2009/01/turn-your-oven-into-proofing-oven.html and it seemed to work ok...

Most domestic ovens will not have a thermostat that goes down to 30c.

How much bread etc will you be producing? Generally room temperature will do the trick for most recipes. A colder temp will simply mean that it takes that bit longer to prove.

We have an elderly oven that was here when we moved in. What I tend to do for proving bread in a hurry is turn the oven on to about 50C for about 5 mins then turn it off and pop the dough in. That just makes it warm and the oven insulation keeps the heat in for an hour or so. Sometimes I might give it another few mins on part way through if I've let too much heat out checking on things.

Or you could do what Nancy did in the GBBO and prove it in the microwave.

15 seconds in the microwave on its lowest power setting every half hour works.

I have a Neff oven which has a bread proving function. It's great, I use it at least twice a week. Just turn the dial to the right function, slap your dough in and walk away.

I have this one but I'm sure there must be others in the range. www.johnlewis.com/neff-b46e74n3gb-slide-and-hide-single-electric-oven-stainless-steel/p869055

Thanks for all this. I used (pre DC) to make quite a lot of bread and just let it do its thing at room temperature, but nowadays I like things to be a bit more predictable. Had no idea you could use a microwave.