Sourdough bread is one of the most popular types of bread nowadays. If you like conventional bread, you will find it more nutritious. In addition, you don’t have to worry about increasing your blood pressure.
Learning how to make sourdough bread is like learning how to ride a bike. You will stumble and fall several times, but once you get the hang of it, making one for yourself can become basic.
Steps in Making Sourdough Bread
Creating sourdough bread requires only three simple ingredients: water, flour, and salt. It takes around 2 – 3 hours to prepare and bake from start to finish. Here are the steps on how to bake sourdough bread:
1. Create Your Dough Starter
For the starter, you will need flour and water. Mix them until they become smooth and lump-free. Transfer the starter to a jar or plastic container, leave the lid open for an hour, and keep it warm. Seal the container and set it aside for a day.
After 6 days, you must “feed” your starter. Each day, cut away half of the starter and add additional flour and lukewarm water. Stir well. Do this at the same time every day. In the next 3-4 days, bubbles appear. This means that the starter is working. On the 7th day, you can use the starter to make sourdough bread.
2. Prepare Your Dough
When you want to make the bread:
- Mix part of your starter with flour and water and let it rest for a few hours.
- Add salt.
- Fold the dough several times and leave it for 10- 30 minutes.
- Repeat the procedure until the dough becomes smooth and stretchy.
Let the dough rise at room temperature until it increases to about 1.5 times its original volume. Mold your dough according to your desired shape. Place it in the oven. Let the bread cool on a rack for 2 – 3 hours before slicing it.
3. Bake the Bread
Place the lid on top of the pot and set the oven temperature to 400°F/204°C. After 20 minutes, remove the lid. Your bread will be pale and shiny. Continue baking for an additional 40 minutes or until the dough is deep and golden brown. Internal temperature should be set at 205 – 210°F or 96 – 98°C. Let it cool on a wire rack for at least 1 hour before slicing.
Advice on Preparing the Dough
Rather than purely white flour, consider mixing 10 to 30 percent of another flour, such as rye, spelt, or other types of wheat that your local mill carries. This is an easy way to add deep and robust notes to your sourdough bread. Additionally, you can visit https://www.youkneadsourdough.com.au/ for more advice on preparing the dough.
You may want to consider dough hydration, which refers to the water-to-flour ratio. The wetter and more hydrated the dough is, the better it will result from the sourdough bread. Generally, the best sourdough bread use 70 percent or more hydration.
Conclusion
Learning how to make sourdough bread gives you a nutritious alternative to conventional bread. Preparing it, though, requires some patience on your part. Research creative ingredients that you can add to your finished product.
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