I stick my dough in a dough-rising bucket (aka dough-doubler) and use my oven with the light on. It's a near perfect 85°F in the corner away from the bulb. If it's cold and dry (winter), I'll also add a baking pan on the bottom rack and pour hot water into it to add steam and warmth for the final proof. Dough really loves that high humidity

I'd have a problem with "bottom only" heat for proofing dough. That may be too much concentration of heat in one place, in my opinion. But if it works, great. Like many things in bread-making - there are choices, usually not many absolute right or wrong things.

All that being said, there's nothing wrong with a long, cold, slow rise during fermentation to really bring out the flavor in bread - it just takes so much longer.

-Grainlady

I think it should work fine. I used to use a waterbed for dough rising.

In fact, the other day my daughter asked me what I do now a days, as I don't have a water bed anymore. :)

I warm up my oven, and then keep it temperate with the oven light now.

Moni

When I was little, my Mom would use the radiators to get the dough to rise. Now my home doesn't have radiators so I resorted to using a heating pad years and years ago. I place a large bowl on the table, place the heating pad in the bowl, and then place the bowl with the dough on the heating pad. The heating pad is kind of cradled around the bowl with the dough. Absolutely works like a charm!

Chris

Oklamoni I still use my waterbed for dough rising ROFL!!!!

Annie where are you?

Marilynn: You could try putting another bowl over the dough and
cover everything with a towel.
I use my oven like some others.
I put a pan of hot water on the bottom shelf,
turn the oven on for a minute and turn the oven light on.
Spray the dough with Pam and set it in the oven.

One time I forgot to turn the oven off, after warming.
What a mess !!!

In the Pizzeria I built a proof cabinet to hold about 100 pans.
I had a hot plate in the bottom, with a pot of water.

If you bake a lot of bread,
You can use a refridge or freezer cabinet for this.
You would probably have to cut some vent holes in the top,
to release some moisture.
LOU

juniebug: Glad to hear of someone else who discovered the heating pad works well .... my husband at first thought I was crazy using the heating pad under the bread dough but is convinced now! It keeps a constant tempurature & while it may not be the best way to let bread dough rise it sure works for the few times I make bread. In summer I cover the bowl with a dish towel & place it on the picnic table in the sun or in the house by a south facing window.

Gee, I never thought of using the water bed ...sure a lot of ingenius bakers out there!

- Marilynn

Oh, this is funny, and reminds me of how I used to proof my bread when I was first married and living in an old, drafty, cold farmhouse. I'd start the laundry and set my bread to rise on top of the dryer, which worked like a charm...

For a fast first rise I heat a measuring cup with some water (for a couple of minutes) in my microwave. I then put my kneeded bread dough (in a plastic container) in the microwave, with the heated water, and shut the door. It doesn't take long. . .

I just leave my dough to rise on the kitchen counter, usually away from any heat source. I like the flavour better from a slow rise.

I've been looking at different ranges recently though and noticed that many of them have a setting for proofing.

Ann

I also use the microwave. I boil a pyrex measuring cup of water in it for 5 or so minutes which warms the walls inside. I have an older full size mike with a shelf so I can get 4 loaf pans in there and leave the cup of hot water as well to maintain the warmth.

The heating pad is a good idea. I use a heating pad in a small ice chest to make yogurt. We have a small furnace closet, heavily insulated, that also holds the water heater. It stays pretty cozy in winter, perfect to raise bread, sometimes just leaving the light on in there is warm enough when I keep my thermastat too low. Of course, the oven light works also when I don't want to use these other options.