Sourdough Bread
Tamagotchi for adults: keeping a wild yeast colony alive.
Timing note: 2 days
Sourdough Bread
Tamagotchi for adults: keeping a wild yeast colony alive.
Timing note: 2 days
The Key Move
This isn't cooking; it's microbiology
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The Setup
- Dutch Oven5-7 qt·for steam baking
- Bench Scraper
- Mixing Bowls
- Wire Cooling Rack
- Instant-Read ThermometerOptionalfor internal temp check
The Mise en Place
3Your prep station before cooking begins
The Pantry (0/2)
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My bread came out dense and gummy, like a frisbee.
Ah, the classic frisbee! This usually means your starter wasn't quite ready for prime time, or you didn't let that dough develop enough during its bulk rise. Give your starter a go…
My loaf spread out completely flat.
It went flat, huh? That's usually one of two things: either the dough fermented a bit too long and the gluten structure got tired, or it wasn't shaped with enough tension. When you…
Chef's Notes
For a crispier crust, spritz the oven walls with water during the first 10 minutes of baking.
Score the dough just before baking to control expansion and create a beautiful pattern.
Serve warm with butter, jam, or a drizzle of honey for a simple, satisfying snack.
The Method
AUTOLYSE
MIX flour (500g) and water (350g) into a shaggy dough. Let it sit for 1 hour.
Why? This allows the gluten to start forming before the yeast attacks. It makes the dough extensible.
BULK FERMENT
Time-sensitivePINCH in the starter (100g) and salt. Every 30 minutes, perform a "Stretch and Fold." Grab the side, pull it up, slap it over. Do this 4 times.
The dough should turn from a sticky mess into a smooth, bouncy pillow that holds its shape.
SHAPE & PROOF
Time-sensitiveSHAPE into a tight ball (create surface tension). Place in a banneton (basket) and refrigerate overnight (Cold Retard).
⚠️ If you don't create surface tension, the bread will spread into a pancake in the oven.
THE SCORE & BAKE
Preheat Dutch Oven to 500°F (260°C). SLASH the dough with a razor (lame) at a 45° angle. BAKE covered for 20 mins, uncovered for 25 mins.
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