2 cups lukewarm water (110 degrees F)
1 tablespoon quick rise yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
5 - 5 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
2 teaspoons sea salt or kosher salt
Non-stick cooking spray
1 egg white beaten with a pinch of salt for glaze
Combine the warm water, yeast, and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Add 4 cups of the flour and the salt, stir until blended. Knead with the dough hook until until the dough is elastic and pulls cleanly from the sides of the bowl, about 10 minutes, adding flour as needed, but not too much. Not all the flour may be needed. The dough will be very soft and wet.
First Rise: Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for one minute. Form into a ball and place in a lightly oiled bowl, but don't turn the dough over. Sprinkle the top of the dough lightly with flour. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 45 - 60 minutes.
Second Rise: Scrape the dough onto a floured work surface. Press flat, knead for a few seconds and return to the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise again until doubled, about 20 - 30 minutes.
Shaping and Final Proofing: Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Spray a baguette pan with non-stick cooking spray. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface; press flat. Cut into either 2 or 4 equal pieces with a pastry scraper and let rest for 5 minutes. Press each ball flat and then fold into thirds. Roll and stretch each into a rope 16 inches long with tapered ends if making regular size baguettes. Place in prepared baguette pan, seam side down. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rise until doubled, about 20 minutes.
Brush the baguettes with the egg white glaze. Using a very sharp knife or a flat razor blade, make three 1/4 inch deep diagonal slashes on each loaf.
Place a shallow pan filled with ice cubes on the lowest rack of the preheated oven. Bake the baguettes until browned and crusty, about 20 - 25 minutes. Transfer the loaves to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.
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