Sourdough bread

Sourdough Secrets

The Science Behind Your Bread

Physics

Bassinage

Two-stage hydration: the physics of adding water mid-mix

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Chemistry

Starch Retrogradation

Why bread goes stale (and how sourdough slows it)

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Physics

Oven Spring

What happens in the first 15 minutes in the oven

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Chemistry

Maillard Reaction

The chemistry of crust browning

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Biology

Starch Gelatinization

Why you must wait before slicing

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Biology

Sourdough Starter Peak

Six signs your levain is ready, and why the clock alone gets it wrong

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Calculation

Desired Dough Temperature

The baker's math: solve water temperature so dough lands at target

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Biology

Inoculation Ratio

How 1:1:1, 1:2:2, and 1:5:5 feeds change fermentation time and flavor

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Temperature

Seasonal Feeding

Adjusting your schedule when the kitchen swings 10°C between seasons

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Fermentation

Cold Retard at 4°C

What happens to yeast, bacteria, and enzymes overnight in the fridge

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Chemistry

Flour Types in Sourdough

How white, whole wheat, rye, and spelt change everything about timing

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Diagnostics

Starter Troubleshooting Guide

Mold, off smells, no rise, or hooch — diagnose the cause and fix it

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Storage & Care

Long-Term Starter Storage

Refrigerating, freezing, or drying a starter — and reviving it reliably

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Reference

Timing Guide by Bread Type

Baguette, focaccia, pizza dough, and pan loaf — each needs a different schedule

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Diagnostics

Why Is My Sourdough Dense?

Seven real causes of gummy, dense crumb — and how to fix each one

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Scheduling

Overnight Schedule for 9-to-5 Bakers

Feed before bed, bake before work — three realistic schedules for a work day

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Fermentation

Bulk Fermentation Time by Temperature

A reference table for 18–30°C, plus the biology behind why temperature moves the clock

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Testing

The Float Test: What It Actually Proves

Why the float test passes too early, too late, and sometimes never

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Diagnostics

Starter Not Rising? Causes & Fixes

Five real causes of a stalled starter, and how to tell "slow" from "dead"

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Reference

How Much Starter Should You Use?

Inoculation amount changes your whole schedule, not just the flavor

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Reference

Sourdough Hydration Explained

The formula, typical ranges by bread type, and how to adjust it safely

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Equipment

Do You Need a Proofing Basket?

What a banneton actually does, and when a bowl and towel work just as well

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Technique

How to Score Sourdough

Blade angle, depth, and timing — scoring controls where your loaf opens, not just how it looks

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Seasonal

Baking Sourdough in Summer

Hot kitchens speed up fermentation more than most bakers expect

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Beginner

Your First Sourdough Loaf: A Complete Timeline

A start-to-finish walkthrough with realistic time expectations at every step

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Starter Care

Sourdough Starter Maintenance

How often to feed, when to refrigerate, and how to revive a neglected starter

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