Baking Bread
Your First Sourdough Loaf
Lesson 1 of 14
A calm, start-to-finish guide to your first loaf—without chasing perfection.
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Baking Bread
Follow clear methods for mixing, fermenting, shaping, proofing and baking better sourdough bread.
Baking Bread
Mixing Sourdough Dough
Lesson 2 of 14
Good mixing distributes ingredients evenly and starts gluten development without overcomplicating the process.
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Stretch and Folds for Sourdough
Lesson 4 of 14
Stretch and folds build strength gently while the dough ferments.
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Coil Folds for Sourdough
Lesson 5 of 14
Coil folds are a gentler way to build strength, especially in wetter dough.
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Baking Bread
Bulk Fermentation in Sourdough
Lesson 6 of 14
Bulk fermentation is the stage where the loaf is really built—and the stage beginners most often misjudge.
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Final Proof in Sourdough
Lesson 7 of 14
The final proof is the last fermentation stage after shaping and before baking.
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Overnight Proofing Sourdough
Lesson 8 of 14
An overnight cold proof makes sourdough easier to schedule and often easier to score.
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Scoring Sourdough Bread
Lesson 9 of 14
Scoring is not decoration first—it is a controlled weak point that lets the loaf expand.
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Dutch Oven Baking for Sourdough
Lesson 10 of 14
A Dutch oven creates a small steam chamber around the loaf, which is why it works so well for sourdough.
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Steam Baking Sourdough Without a Dutch Oven
Lesson 11 of 14
You can bake excellent sourdough without a Dutch oven if you create enough steam during the early bake.
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Sourdough Baking Temperatures
Lesson 12 of 14
Oven temperature controls expansion, crust colour and how quickly the centre sets.
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Cooling Sourdough Bread
Lesson 13 of 14
The loaf keeps changing after it leaves the oven.
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How to Store Sourdough Bread
Lesson 14 of 14
Good storage keeps the crumb moist without turning the crust rubbery.
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Baking Bread
Autolyse Explained
What You'll Learn What autolyse is. What it changes in dough. How long it should last. When starter is included or excluded. When you can skip it. Quick…
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Baking Bread
Bulk Fermentation: A Simple Temperature Guide for Better Sourdough
One of the most common questions in sourdough baking is: "How long should I bulk ferment my dough?" The honest answer is that there is no single time…
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