What does the windowpane test indicate about dough?

• A. A gluten development test where a thin membrane of dough can be stretched without tearing
• B. It indicates dough temperature
• C. It indicates yeast activity
• D. It indicates dough flavor

Answer: (C)

The windowpane test checks gluten development in dough. When the gluten network has formed well, you can gently stretch a small piece of dough into a thin, nearly translucent membrane without it tearing. That thin, flexible sheet shows the dough is strong and extensible enough to trap and hold gas as the yeast ferments, leading to a good rise and structure in the final bake. It doesn’t measure dough temperature, nor does it directly assess yeast activity or flavor—the windowpane result reflects how well the dough’s gluten has developed to support fermentation and rising.