Home sourdough becomes much easier when you stop chasing perfection and start reading the dough. These five practical tips will help you bake a loaf with better rise, flavour and crust.
1. Give Your Starter a Routine
A lively starter is the foundation of good sourdough. Feed it consistently, keep it at a comfortable room temperature and use it when it is active, airy and showing plenty of bubbles.
2. Weigh Your Ingredients
Scales make sourdough repeatable. Flour, water, salt and starter can vary dramatically when measured by cups, so grams are the simplest path to consistency.
3. Watch The Dough, Not The Clock
Temperature changes fermentation speed. Look for a dough that has expanded, feels aerated and has a gentle wobble rather than relying on a fixed number of hours.
Stop chasing perfection. Start reading the dough.
4. Build Strength Gradually
Stretch-and-folds or coil folds help the dough hold gas. Be gentle and give the dough time to relax between folds.
5. Bake With Confidence
Preheat thoroughly and create a steamy environment for the first part of the bake. A deep colour on the crust usually means deeper flavour inside.
And when you want a break from feeding, folding and timing, Main Beach Bakery on Tedder Avenue is here with fresh sourdough ready for slicing, sharing and taking to the coast.