Making Sourdough bread
What's it all about?
Why are there so many recipes and people saying you have to do it this way, or that way, when the only ingredients you need are water, flour, salt, and sourdough starter?
Well, there are many ways you can make sourdough bread and many work well. At its most basic you want to develop a lively yeast starter, inoculate your dough and have it rise. Once it's risen to the optimum point, you bake it off.
That makes it sound easy, doesn't it? Well, it is if you understand what you're trying to achieve at each point.
Why are there so many recipes and people saying you have to do it this way, or that way, when the only ingredients you need are water, flour, salt, and sourdough starter?
Well, there are many ways you can make sourdough bread and many work well. At its most basic you want to develop a lively yeast starter, inoculate your dough and have it rise. Once it's risen to the optimum point, you bake it off.
That makes it sound easy, doesn't it? Well, it is if you understand what you're trying to achieve at each point.
- Have a healthy and vibrant starter.
- Mix it with the right ratio of water, flour and salt.
- Allow it to rest (Autolyse).
- Shape it, rest it again.
- Allow it to prove to the optimum point.
- Bake at the right temperature.
See the downloadable chart I've prepared for you.
If you use a type of flour other than what we recommend for making your loaf, you may have to adjust your ratios.