Best 7 How To Make Sourdough Bread Recipes

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If you're looking for a delicious, crusty loaf of bread that's perfect for any occasion, then you need to try making sourdough bread. Sourdough bread is a type of fermented bread that uses a sourdough starter instead of commercial yeast. This gives it a unique tangy flavor and chewy texture. Making sourdough bread can seem intimidating at first, but it's actually quite simple once you get the hang of it. In this article, we'll walk you through the steps of making sourdough bread, from start to finish. We'll also provide you with some tips and tricks for getting the perfect loaf every time.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE SOURDOUGH BREAD RECIPE BY TASTY



How To Make Homemade Sourdough Bread Recipe by Tasty image

Here's what you need: warm water, active dry yeast, flour, sugar, flour, salt, water, starter

Provided by Tasty

Categories     Sides

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 cups warm water
2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast, 1 packet
3 ½ cups flour
2 tablespoons sugar
4 cups flour
2 teaspoons salt
1 ¼ cups water
1 cup starter, stir before using

Steps:

  • In a glass bowl, add water and yeast. Mix the yeast into the water and let it sit for a couple minutes.
  • Add in the rest of the ingredients for the starter. Mix well until everything is fully incorporated.
  • Wrap the bowl with clear wrap, making sure not to tightly seal the bowl. Let the starter breathe a little and keep it in a dark place at room temperature. Stir every 12 hours until making the dough. The starter will rise and shrink each day and you should see bubbles, letting you know that the yeast is being activated!
  • On day 5, combine all ingredients into a bowl, and knead for 10 minutes on low if using a machine; if kneading by hand, knead for 20 minutes until dough is stretchy yet doesn't stick to your hands.
  • While the dough is kneading, store your starter for future use. Your starter will last forever as long as you maintain and care for it. It can stay in the fridge and be fed once a week with a teaspoon of sugar. To replenish your starter, simply add 1 cup of flour (125g) and ½ cup of water (120ml), mix, and place it back in the fridge. Leave it out overnight to get to room temperature before preparing the dough.
  • Place kneaded dough into a large floured bowl with a towel over the top, then sprinkle flour and let it rise for 12 hours.
  • Place risen dough onto a floured board and knead for a few minutes. Place it into a floured proofing basket or a medium bowl, sprinkle flour and let it rise for another 4 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 480°F (250°C).
  • Flip the dough onto a parchment paper, and transfer the dough and paper into a large cast-iron dutch oven.
  • Score the top of the bread.
  • Place the lid on top and bake for 30 minutes.
  • Take the lid off and bake for another 15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
  • Transfer onto a cooling rack and let it rest for an hour. Knock the bottom of the bread to listen for a hollow knock.
  • Nutrition Calories: 1615 Fat: 4 grams Carbs: 340 grams Fiber: 11 grams Sugars: 19 grams Protein: 42 grams
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 460 calories, Carbohydrate 96 grams, Fat 1 gram, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 12 grams, Sugar 2 grams

SOURDOUGH BREAD



Sourdough Bread image

Yes! You can make a tangy sourdough boule from scratch. Cooking it in a Dutch oven guarantees a delicious crunchy-chewy crust.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 16h

Yield 2 medium boules

Number Of Ingredients 8

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole-wheat flour
3/4 cup warm water (about 75 degrees F)
2 tablespoons active sourdough starter, at room temperature (see Cook's Note)
6 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
2 3/4 cups warm water (about 75 degrees F)
3/4 cup whole-wheat flour
2 tablespoons kosher salt

Steps:

  • For the levain: Combine the all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, water and starter in a medium bowl and mix to combine. Cover and let sit at room temperature until bubbly and increased in volume by about 20 percent, about 8 hours.
  • For the dough: Add the all-purpose flour, water and whole-wheat flour to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Weigh out 7 ounces of the levain (about 1 cup) and add to the mixer (discard any remaining levain). Mix on low until a shaggy dough forms. Cover the bowl and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
  • Add the salt to the dough and mix on medium speed for 2 minutes; the dough should feel a bit sticky and wet but look smooth and very stretchy. Scrape the dough into a plastic or glass container about twice its size. Cover and let sit at room temperature until puffed, about 45 minutes.
  • Put the dough on a floured work surface, flatten it gently, then fold in thirds like a business letter. Transfer it back to the container. Cover and let sit at room temperature for 45 minutes.
  • Repeat the folding process one more time, transfer back to the container, cover and let sit at room temperature for another 45 minutes. After the third 45-minute rest, the dough should feel soft and pillowy; when pressed with a finger, it should leave an indentation that begins to spring back.
  • Gently scrape the dough onto a lightly floured work surface. Divide in half using a bench scraper. Shape each piece loosely into a round by gently tucking the edges under. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rest for 30 minutes.
  • Drape 2 kitchen towels into 2 medium (8-inch) bowls and dust very generously with flour. Dust the top of the dough rounds very lightly with flour and flip over using a bench scraper. Flatten one piece of dough into a circle, then fold the left and right sides of the dough over the center. Keeping tension in the dough, begin folding down from the top edge in 3 segments, sealing the bottom edge with the last fold. Loosely cup the dough and, using your hands and the tension between the board and the dough, pull the bread very slowly towards yourself while creating a taut ball. Gently flip the dough ball over and into one of the prepared bowls. Cover loosely with another kitchen towel. Repeat the process with the second piece of dough. Place both in a warm place to rise until about 1 1/2 times their size, 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
  • About 20 minutes before baking, position an oven rack in the lower third of the oven, put a 4-quart Dutch oven and lid on the rack and preheat to 500 degrees F. When preheated, carefully transfer the hot Dutch oven to a heatsafe surface with oven mitts (leave the lid in the oven). Flip one round of dough over into the Dutch oven. Using a sharp knife, scissors or bread lame, score the top of the bread in a cross or desired pattern. Return to the oven, immediately cover with the lid and bake for 20 minutes. Lower the temperature to 425 degrees F, uncover and bake until dark brown, about 10 minutes more. Transfer the bread to a cooling rack to cool completely. Return the empty Dutch oven to the oven, raise the temperature to 500 degrees F and let heat for 10 minutes before repeating the baking process with the second dough round.

HOW TO MAKE SOURDOUGH BREAD



How to make sourdough bread image

Make a sourdough starter from scratch, then use it to bake a flavoursome loaf of bread with our simple step-by-step recipe.

Provided by Cassie Best

Categories     Side dish

Time 1h40m

Yield Makes 1 loaf

Number Of Ingredients 6

700g strong white flour
500g strong white flour, plus extra for dusting
1 tsp fine salt
1 tbsp clear honey
300g sourdough starter
flavourless oil, for greasing

Steps:

  • First, make your starter. In a large bowl, mix together 100g of the flour with 125ml slightly warm water. Whisk together until smooth and lump-free.
  • Transfer the starter to a large jar (a 1-litre Kilner jar is good) or a plastic container. Leave the jar or container lid ajar for 1 hr or so in a warm place (around 25C is ideal), then seal and set aside for 24 hrs.
  • For the next 6 days, you will need to 'feed' the starter. Each day, tip away half of the original starter, add an extra 100g of flour and 125ml slightly warm water, and stir well. Try to do this at the same time every day.
  • After 3-4 days you should start to see bubbles appearing on the surface, and it will smell yeasty and a little acidic. This is a good indicator that the starter is working.
  • On day 7, the starter should be quite bubbly and smell much sweeter. It is now ready to be used in baking.
  • Tip the flour, 225ml warm water, the salt, honey and the starter into a bowl, or a mixer fitted with a dough hook. Stir with a wooden spoon, or on a slow setting in the machine, until combined - add extra flour if it's too sticky or a little extra warm water if it's too dry.
  • Tip onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 mins until soft and elastic - you should be able to stretch it without it tearing. If you're using a mixer, turn up the speed a little and mix for 5 mins.
  • Place the dough in a large, well-oiled bowl and cover. Leave in a warm place to rise for 3 hrs. You may not see much movement, but don't be disheartened, as sourdough takes much longer to rise than a conventional yeasted bread.
  • Line a medium-sized bowl with a clean tea towel and flour it really well or, if you have a proving basket, you can use this (see tips below). Tip the dough back onto your work surface and knead briefly to knock out any air bubbles. Shape the dough into a smooth ball and dust it with flour.
  • Place the dough, seam-side up, in the bowl or proving basket, cover loosely and leave at room temperature until roughly doubled in size. The time it takes for your bread to rise will vary depending on the strength of your starter and the temperature in the room, anywhere from 4-8 hrs. The best indicators are your eyes, so don't worry too much about timings here. You can also prove your bread overnight in the fridge. Remove it in the morning and let it continue rising for another hour or 2 at room temperature. The slower the rise, the deeper the flavour you will achieve.
  • Place a large baking tray in the oven, and heat to 230C/210C fan/gas 8. Fill a small roasting tin with a little water and place this in the bottom of the oven to create steam. Remove the baking tray from the oven, sprinkle with flour, then carefully tip the risen dough onto the tray.
  • Slash the top a few times with a sharp knife, if you like, then bake for 35-40 mins until golden brown. It will sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. Leave to cool on a wire rack for 20 mins before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 245 calories, Fat 1 grams fat, Carbohydrate 48 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 1 grams sugar, Fiber 2 grams fiber, Protein 8 grams protein, Sodium 0.4 milligram of sodium

CHEF JOHN'S SOURDOUGH BREAD



Chef John's Sourdough Bread image

Making your own sourdough bread does take a while, but the amount of actual work is minimal--and the bread you'll get is spectacular! See the footnote link to how to make the sourdough starter.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Bread     Yeast Bread Recipes     Sourdough Bread Recipes

Time 21h35m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 6

100 grams sourdough starter
250 grams water
8 grams kosher salt
394 grams bread flour
rice flour for bread form (banneton)
1 10-inch banneton (proofing basket)

Steps:

  • Measure out starter into a bowl. Add water, salt, and bread flour. Mix until ingredients are well blended into a very sticky dough. Cover with aluminum foil; let rest 4 hours at 70 to 75 degrees F (22 degrees C).
  • With wet hands, fold dough over on itself 3 or 4 times. Cover with foil and allow dough to ferment for 2 more hours.
  • Generously dust a bread form with rice flour (see Chef's Note for banneton substitution).
  • Scrape dough out onto a lightly floured work surface (you can use bread flour or all-purpose flour). Shape into a ball with a smooth, unbroken surface, using just enough flour on the surface to keep it from sticking. Transfer smooth-side down to banneton. Pinch together the rougher edges of the surface toward the center to smooth them and maintain the round ball shape.
  • Cover and refrigerate 12 hours to slow the fermentation process.
  • Remove loaf from the refrigerator and let it rise in a warm spot until the dough springs slowly back and retains a slight indentation when poked gently with a finger, about 3 to 5 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Dust surface of dough with flour. Gently invert banneton over the baking sheet and transfer dough onto parchment paper. Gently brush off excess rice flour. Score the top of the dough about 1/8-inch deep with a sharp knife to create a shallow slit running across the center. Mist entire surface lightly with water.
  • Bake in the center of preheated oven until beautifully browned, 25 to 30 minutes.
  • Transfer to a rack to cool completely (do not slice loaf while it is still warm).

Nutrition Facts : Calories 204.8 calories, Carbohydrate 41.2 g, Cholesterol 0.1 mg, Fat 0.9 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 6.9 g, SaturatedFat 0.1 g, Sodium 404.8 mg, Sugar 0.4 g

HOMEMADE SOURDOUGH BREAD



Homemade sourdough bread image

Make our easy sourdough starter seven days ahead to make our simple homemade sourdough loaf. Serve with your favourite casseroles or soups

Provided by Good Food team

Categories     Side dish

Time 1h40m

Yield Makes 1 loaf (cuts into 10 slices)

Number Of Ingredients 6

50g strong white flour to start, then 25g extra a day for 6 days
50g strong wholemeal flour to start, then 25g extra a day for 6 days
450g strong white flour , plus extra for dusting
50g wholemeal flour
10g fine salt
100g sourdough starter (see above)

Steps:

  • To make the sourdough starter, whisk 50g strong white flour and 50g strong wholemeal flour with 100ml slightly warm water until smooth. Transfer to a large jar or plastic container. Leave the lid ajar for 1 hr or so in a warm place, then seal and set aside for 24 hrs. For the next six days, you will need to 'feed' it. Each day, tip away half the original starter, add an extra 25g of each flour and 50ml slightly warm water, and stir well. After a few days, you should start to see bubbles on the surface, and it will smell yeasty. On day seven, the starter should be bubbly and smell much sweeter. It is now ready to be used, but make sure you keep half back and carry on feeding for your next loaf.
  • Tip both the flours, 300ml warm water and the starter into a bowl, stir with a wooden spoon into a dough and leave somewhere for an hour.
  • Tip in 25ml more water and the salt and bring everything together. Cover and leave somewhere warm for 3 hrs, folding the dough onto itself several times in the first hour. The dough should increase in size by about a third.
  • Line a medium bowl with a clean tea towel and flour it really well, or flour a proving basket. Tip the dough back onto your work surface, shape into a tight, smooth ball and dust it with flour.
  • Place the dough, seam-side up, in the bowl or proving basket, and leave at room temperature for 3 hrs - or better still in the fridge overnight - until risen by about a quarter.
  • Heat oven to 230C/210C fan/gas 8 and put a casserole dish with a lid or a baking stone in the oven for at least 30 mins to heat up, and a large roasting tin filled with boiling water underneath. After 30 mins, carefully remove the casserole dish, invert the loaf into it and slash the top. Cover and bake for 20 mins, then take the lid off and bake for another 20 mins. Or invert onto the baking stone, slash and bake for 40 mins, or until the crust is as dark as you like it.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 202 calories, Fat 1 grams fat, SaturatedFat 0.2 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 41 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 0.3 grams sugar, Fiber 2 grams fiber, Protein 7 grams protein, Sodium 0.9 milligram of sodium

HOW TO MAKE SOURDOUGH BREAD



How to Make Sourdough Bread image

Perhaps you've seen impressively holey sourdough loaves on social media, and wondered if you too could make them. You can! Claire Saffitz can show you how.

Provided by Claire Saffitz

Number Of Ingredients 0

Steps:

  • • Mature starter, which you should keep refrigerated until you're ready to use it (you can get a bit from a friend or buy it online from Etsy or King Arthur Flour) • 700 grams high-quality white bread flour, plus more for feeding starter and dusting work surfaces • 300 grams high-quality whole-wheat flour, whole-grain rye flour, or spelt flour, or a combination • 20 grams kosher salt or fine sea salt • Rice flour, for dusting
  • 1. Feed your starter (refreshing). In the morning, three days before you plan to serve your bread (Friday morning, for example, for loaves on Sunday), pull your starter from the refrigerator and decant 20 grams of it into a clean, clear container. Return any remaining starter to the refrigerator for future use. Stir in 100 grams of room-temperature tap water until the starter is evenly dispersed, then stir in 100 grams of white flour until you have a smooth paste. Why? The yeast and bacteria in your starter become sluggish in the cool environment of your refrigerator. They must be energized through successive feedings, a process called refreshing, to be active enough to raise the dough. 2. Cover the container, and let sit at room temperature until it has at least doubled in volume and its surface teems with sudsy bubbles, 10 to 12 hours, depending on your kitchen's temperature. 3. Feed your starter a second time. Once the starter has doubled in size (the evening of the first day), discard all but 20 grams of starter. To the 20 grams of starter, add 100 grams of water, then mix and incorporate another 100 grams of white flour. Cover and set aside at room temperature to be used in your dough the next day.
  • The bulk of your work occurs on this day, so you'll want to set aside some time to tend to your dough. Depending on environmental conditions, your dough may take anywhere from five to nine hours to finish its rises. It's not active time, but you'll want to stay close to keep an eye on it.1. Mix together flour and water and let sit (autolyse). Early on the second day, weigh 700 grams of white bread flour and 300 grams of whole-wheat or whole-grain rye or spelt flour (or a blend) in a large mixing bowl. Mix to combine. Weigh out 750 grams of lukewarm tap water (about 90 degrees) and add to the flours. Mix gently with a clean hand or a flexible bench scraper until all the flours are hydrated and no dry spots remain. Cover with a damp dish towel, and let sit at least 30 minutes while you wait until your starter is ready (see Step 2). Why? If starter is the life force of bread, then the stretchy strands known as gluten are its backbone. When two proteins in flour come into contact with water, gluten forms a network inside the dough, trapping the gas produced by the yeast. To build lots of gluten from the get-go, bakers employ a technique known as autolyse, in which flour and water are mixed and left to rest, usually before adding the starter. During autolyse, gluten bonds form that create the basic structure of the dough. As little as 30 minutes of autolyse can be effective, but generally speaking a couple of hours is optimal. It will give your gluten a head start and decrease the amount of mixing down the line.2. Make sure the starter is ready to use (perform a float test). When the sudsy bubbles on the surface of a starter form a dome and it appears on the verge of collapse, drop about a teaspoon of starter into a small bowl of room temperature water. If it floats, the starter is full of gas and ready to use (ripe). If it sinks, let it sit, checking every 30 minutes, until you see even more activity and then try the test again.3. Combine the autolyse and starter. Add 200 grams of ripe starter to the bowl with the flour-water mixture. Pinching with your thumb, forefinger and middle finger on one hand and rotating the bowl with the other, mix until the starter is completely incorporated. 4. Assess texture and add salt. At this point, the dough should be wet but also extremely extensible (having the ability to stretch without snapping back). Sprinkle 20 grams salt and 20 grams of water across the dough, and pinch, as before, to incorporate. Cover with a damp towel and let sit for 10 minutes. Why? Adding salt tightens the gluten network, so the dough will go from very extensible to more elastic (having the tendency to snap back after being stretched) and stringy.5. Mix the dough. Uncover the dough. Slide a wet hand down along the inside of the bowl and underneath the dough. Grasp a handful and stretch it upward until you feel resistance, then fold it back onto the dough mass. Repeat this motion continuously for 10 minutes, rotating the bowl about 90 degrees each time. As you work the dough, it will progress from very slack and sticky to smoother and more elastic.6. Check if the dough has built enough gluten (perform the windowpane test). After 10 minutes of mixing, pinch off a golf ball-size piece of dough and gently stretch it with your fingertips, working it both longer and wider until you have a thin, even membrane through which light can pass. If the dough tears before this point, continue to mix and check again every 10 minutes. (If you're mixing for more than 20 minutes and the dough is not yet at this point, feel free to move on. Your bread will still turn out.) Use a flexible bench scraper to scrape dough out onto a clean surface. Rinse the bowl to remove any dried flour, then return the dough to the damp bowl. Why? This will help determine if the dough has developed sufficient gluten to give it strength, which enables it to hold its shape. 7. Prepare for the dough's first rise (bulk fermentation). Mark where the dough hits the side of the bowl with a piece of tape. Note the time, and the temperature of the dough. It should be 76 degrees to 80 degrees. Cover the dough with a damp towel and let sit for 60 minutes. Why? Bulk fermentation is the period after the starter has been added during which the dough undergoes its first rise. The yeast and bacteria produce gas and flavor, so a longer fermentation will result in a more flavorful bread. If your dough is above or below the optimal 76- to 80-degree range, that's fine, just note that it will accelerate or slow the bulk fermentation accordingly. If fermentation seems to be moving slowly, you can move your dough to a warmer place, like the inside of the oven with the oven light on.8. Fold the dough. Using a wet hand and the same mixing motion as Step 5, but with a gentler touch to avoid knocking out any gas, perform four folds, making a full rotation of the bowl. Cover the bowl, wait 1 hour, then perform the same series of four folds. Cover and repeat every 60 minutes, until the dough feels pillowy and filled with air, which can take at least 3 hours and as many as 7. Each time you fold the dough, it should feel lighter and sit higher in the bowl. Determining when bulk fermentation is complete can be difficult. The dough should more or less double in size - use the mark on the bowl as a reference - but that's not a guarantee. You should see lots of bubbles on the surface and sides of the dough. "It's like cream versus whipped cream," said Avery Ruzicka, the baker and an owner of Manresa Bread in California. "You should be able to see that there's volume to it." Or as Ethan Pikas, of Cellar Door Provisions in Chicago, said, "It should feel very smooth and aerated. It will feel very alive."9. Shape dough for the first time (pre-shaping). Clear and lightly flour a work surface. Gently turn out the dough, letting its weight coax it out of the bowl and loosening the sides with the bench scraper. Divide the dough in half with the bench scraper. Using floured hands and working with one piece of dough at a time, gently pull all the edges of the dough toward the center to create a round, tidy packet. (The non-floured surface will readily stick to itself.) Use a bench scraper to turn the loose ball of dough over so it rests seam-side down. Cover with a clean towel and repeat with the second half of dough. Let both pieces of dough rest, covered, on the work surface for 20 minutes. Why? Pre-shaping the dough guarantees uniform loaf size and helps to organize the gluten strands roughly into the final shape of the baked loaves. The following rest period relaxes the gluten and makes final shaping easier, leading to bread with a better overall rise. 10. Prepare the shaping baskets. As dough rests, line two baskets or mixing bowls with clean kitchen towels. Stir together a 50/50 mixture of white bread flour and rice flour. (Rice flour will prevent sticking.) Dust the interiors of the baskets generously with the 50/50 flour mixture. Set aside.11. Shape the dough a last time (final shaping). Uncover one piece of dough and lightly dust the top with the 50/50 flour mixture. In one decisive motion, use the bench scraper to lift and turn the dough over floured-side down. Slide your fingertips beneath the dough and stretch it gently into a square shape. Fold the left side of the dough inward toward the center, then fold the right side inward and overtop of the left fold. Starting at the end closest to you, roll the dough away from you into a bulky spiral. Let the dough sit for a minute or two on its seam to help it seal, then use a bench scraper to lift up the dough and place it seam-side up in one of the prepared baskets. Lightly dust the exposed part of the dough with more of the 50/50 flour mixture, and cover with a kitchen towel. Repeat with the second piece of dough.12. Let the shaped dough rise inside the baskets (proofing). Rest loaves at room temperature, checking on them periodically, until the surface of the dough has settled and the entire loaves have slightly increased in volume, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. 13. Check if dough is proofed (the poke test). Press a floured finger about 1/2 inch into the dough. If the dough springs back immediately, it needs more time - check again every 20 minutes. But, if it springs back slowly and a slight impression remains, the dough is proofed. 14. Chill the dough. Once the dough passes the poke test, cover the baskets with plastic wrap and transfer to the refrigerator. Chill overnight and up to two days before baking. The longer the dough spends in the refrigerator, the tangier the final bread will taste.
  • 1. Prepare the oven. About an hour before baking, arrange a rack in the lower third of your oven and place a large, uncovered Dutch oven inside. Heat the oven to 500 degrees. 2. Prepare the dough. Remove one loaf from the refrigerator and uncover. Lightly dust the exposed dough with the 50/50 flour mixture, massaging it into the surface. Place a piece of parchment paper over the basket, making sure the parchment is longer and wider than the basket by several inches. Invert the loaf onto the parchment paper. Remove the basket, then slowly peel away the towel. Dust the rounded side of the dough with more of the 50/50 flour mixture, rubbing it into the surface to coat evenly. 3. Make a slash in the dough. Use a lame or a serrated knife to make a long, slightly off-center slash about 1/4-inch deep, angling the blade toward the midline of the loaf. Why? Slashing the bread will help the bread expand predictably in the oven. 4. Bake the dough. Very carefully place the heated Dutch oven on the stovetop. Taking care not to touch the sides, use the parchment paper to lower the loaf into the Dutch oven. Cover and return it to the oven. Bake for 20 minutes. Then, carefully remove the lid and reduce the oven temperature to 450 degrees. Continue to bake the loaf uncovered until the surface is deeply browned all over, another 30 to 40 minutes. Remove the Dutch oven from the oven, and use tongs to help you pull out the loaf. Transfer the Dutch oven back to the oven, and set the oven temperature back to 500 degrees. Repeat the process with the second loaf of bread. Why? The bread is baked covered in the beginning to trap steam, which helps the loaf expand and rise as much as possible.5. Cut and serve! Allow the loaves to cool completely, for a few hours, before cutting into them. Whole loaves can be stored uncovered at room temperature for 1 day. Once cut, bread should be stored in paper bags at room temperature and will keep for 5 days or longer. After the second day, it benefits from light toasting.
  • Keep your starter in a container with the lid on, labeled clearly. Once a week, discard all but 25 grams of starter (discarding most of the starter helps avoid building up a massive amount with each successive feeding). Using a digital scale for accuracy, stir 100 grams of room temperature tap water into the starter until the starter is evenly dispersed. Then stir in 100 grams of high-quality white bread flour until you have a smooth paste. Cover and place in the back of the refrigerator. Set a calendar reminder to feed your starter at the same time every week. Why? The yeast and bacteria in starter feed on sugars in the flour, and you'll need to replenish this food source on a regular basis. Cooling it down will significantly slow the level of activity, or how quickly the micro-organism consume its food source. Bakeries generally keep their starter at room temperature and feed it at least once a day because they are mixing and baking dough constantly, but for most home bakers, refrigerating your starter and feeding it once a week is sufficient. Think of it as a low-maintenance pet!

SOURDOUGH BREAD



Sourdough Bread image

This no-knead sourdough bread is delicious. It has a crisp crust and distinctive sourdough flavor from the "starter" yeast mixture you stir up in advance. I was surprised at how easy it is! -Evelyn Gebhardt, Kasilof, Alaska

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 1h5m

Yield 2 loaves.

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
3-1/2 cups warm water (110° to 115°), divided
7 to 8 cups bread flour, divided
1/4 cup nonfat dry milk powder
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt
Cornmeal

Steps:

  • In a 4-qt. non-metallic bowl, dissolve yeast in 2 cups warm water; let stand 5 minutes. Stir in 2 cups flour until smooth. Cover loosely with a clean towel. Let stand in a warm place (80°to 90°) to ferment for 48 hours; do not stir. (The mixture will become bubbly and rise, have a "yeasty" sour aroma and change color from transparent yellow to gray over the course of 48 hours.) , Stir in milk powder, butter, sugar, salt, remaining water and enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. (Do not knead.) Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/2 hours. , Heavily grease baking sheets and sprinkle with cornmeal. Gently punch dough down. Turn onto a well-floured surface; divide in half. (If baking loaves one at a time, cover and refrigerate half of dough. Proceed with shaping and second rise when oven is ready so shaped loaf can be baked immediately after the second rise.) , With floured hands, gently move the dough in a circular motion. Use friction from the counter to stretch the surface and create a smooth top and round loaf. Quickly and gently transfer to prepared pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375°., With a sharp knife, make three diagonal slashes across tops of loaves. Immediately bake 10 minutes. Gently brush or spray loaves with cold water; bake 25-35 minutes longer or until golden brown.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 120 calories, Fat 1g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 2mg cholesterol, Sodium 157mg sodium, Carbohydrate 23g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 4g protein.

Tips:

  • Use a digital scale to measure your ingredients. This will ensure accuracy and consistency in your baking.
  • Make sure your sourdough starter is active and bubbly before using it. If your starter is not active, it will not be able to leaven your bread properly.
  • Be patient. Sourdough bread takes time to rise and bake. Don't rush the process, or you will end up with a dense, undercooked loaf.
  • Use a Dutch oven or a baking stone to bake your bread. This will help to create a crispy crust and a evenly baked interior.
  • Let your bread cool completely before slicing it. This will help to prevent the bread from crumbling.

Conclusion:

Sourdough bread is a delicious and healthy bread that is easy to make at home. With a little practice, you can master the art of sourdough baking and enjoy this delicious bread for years to come.

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