Beginner’s Sourdough Bread, Take 2
From The Perfect Loaf
Schedule
https://www.theperfectloaf.com/beginners-sourdough-bread/#h-baking-schedule
- 11am levain
- 5-6 hours
- 3pm autolyse
- 1 hour
- 4pm Mix
- 3 folds at 30 mins: 4:30, 5:00, 5:30
- 8:15pm divide, preshape, bench rest
- Bench rest 25 min
- 8:35pm shape
- 8:40pm proof on counter
- 9pm retard overnight
- 12:30pm bake
Weights
- small metal ramekin 34g
- big mixing bowl 344g
- med ceramic ramekin 219g
- weck jar 404g
Levain
19g starter 19g wheat flour 19g bread flour 38g water 95g total weight 5-6 hours room temp
Autolyse
387g bread flour 57g whole wheat flour 26g dark rye flour 302g water 772g total weight Should be 78F Mix and cover, 1 hour room temp
Mix
25g water 9g salt 85g levain Rough total: 866g, plus up to 25g water (866-891g)
Log
- used all purpose vs bread flour for levain, oops
- levain weight is correct
- levain on schedule at 11am
- pre-weighed the flour for autolyse, just add water
- autolyse looks good, water temp 78F, autolyse temp 78.8F after mixing
- Still not sure how vigorously to mix the autolyse
- mix: 19g water. Seems less sloppy than last time. Finished at 4:10.
- pre-shape: 8:30. Fairly strong dough, no bubbles however.
- Shape, 9pm. Decent-looking boule. a few surface bubbles.
- Going to try proofing in a metal bowl with a bit of olive oil to stop from sticking
- Oven has a “proof” setting - unfortunately, it’s 100F minimum
- Proofed in oven at above for 20 mins, in the fridge at 9:30pm.
- Tomorrow: preheat 12:30, bake 1:00pm, cool 1:50pm, eat 2:50-3:50pm.
- Shaped loaf:

Result
- Decent structure. Round was a little wonky and off-kilter, but basically the right shape. Good oven spring.

- Crust: excellent! A tad hard to cut on the bottom though.
- Crumb: not great?

- A few big holes, mostly pretty dense, sandwichy crumb
- A few gummy spots where it looks like the bread didn’t cook long enough
- Didn’t measure temp when I took it out
- Possibly I messed this up by trying to do some post-proof reshaping to get it into more of a ball at the end.
- Maybe bake at 475 for first 20 mins next time?
- Flavor: pretty good. Bit of a sourdough-y aftertaste. Could be sourer.