handling sticky bread dough

What is the best way to handle sticky "batard dough" to shape it before putting it in the oven? I have tried flouring my hands and the crust comes out too white. I have tried using cooking utensils and find that I cannot shape it properly.
Best Answer
For really wet dough, wetting your hands works (that is, quickly dip them in a bowl of water, let the water drip off a little, and keep doing that as you work the dough). Depending on the dough, you could also oil your hands (see the "Is there a reason to NOT use no-stick spray (Pam) for handling dough?" over to the right in related questions). Also helps to be quick; keep your hands moving and the dough sticks less.
And to some extent, you just have to live with it being a sticky mess.
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Quick Answer about "handling sticky bread dough"
How do you deal with sticky bread dough?
How to Handle Sticky Bread Dough. If your dough is so sticky that it sticks to everything, you need to add a little flour to it. As you are kneading it, make sure that your hands and your work surface are coated in a light dusting of flour, and add a few teaspoons of flour at a time. This will get rid of the stickiness ...Is it OK for bread dough to be sticky?
For a normal loaf, the more you knead it the less sticky it becomes. Dough is always wet and sticky at first but, once you've kneaded it for five to six minutes, it becomes less sticky and more glossy as it develops a skin, which is the gluten forming.What happens if bread dough is too wet?
Too much water in bread dough will result in a dense, flat loaf. Too much water in bread dough interferes with the gluten structure, and the loaf will not be able to hold its shape. If the yeast in your bread dough dies because of overhydration, the dough will not be able to rise adequately.Why is my dough sticky after kneading?
Beginners often make the mistake of adding more flour to their dough if it's even the slightest bit sticky, but that's something you should never do. If you're kneading dough and it's not the slightest bit tacky, you've most likely added too much flour.10 TIPS to BECOME A BOSS at HANDLING HIGH HYDRATION STICKY SOURDOUGH
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