If you do a Google search for sourdough recipes, you’ll get 25,600,000 results. There is a ton of information — and misinformation — to sift through. I tested five different methods and this version, from Full Proof Baking’s Kristen Dennis was the clear winner. Although it is time consuming, and a little tricky, the instructions are very detailed and the steps are demonstrated on the video, linked below. This is an all day affair — a perfect loaf for #bakingwhileworking.

Supplies: Kitchen thermometer, Dutch oven, or any heavy pot with lid, parchment paper, banneton (bread proofing basket) or a bowl lined with cloth.

The time chart below shows you what your day(s) would look like should you start at 9:00AM. Also, there are two pre-steps that are not shown in the video, so you need to be aware of them, and do the prep, before you begin:

• Prepare the levain first: The 2nd step in the video is to add the levain, but making the levain is not included in the video (the amounts are, but not the step), AND it takes 6 hrs to be ready for use. So, make that first. After 3 hours, start the first step of mixing the flours with water, i.e. preparing the autolyse. That has to hydrate for 3 hours, so it and the levain will be ready at teh same time.
• Preheat your oven before you take the overnight proofed dough out of the fridge. She suggests a 1-hr preheat.

Figure out what time you want to start before you begin, and measure everything out ahead of time (ingredients listed below as well), so you can follow along with the video in real time.

INGREDIENTS

LEVAIN	AUTOLYSE	FINAL DOUGH
15g starter 30g water 30g flour	70g whole wheat 255g bread flour 253g water	6g levain 7.5g salt

Start Time	Step	Rest Time
9:00	Mix the levain	6 hrs
12:00	Prepare the autolyse	3 hrs
3:00	Add the levain to the autolyse	30 min
3:30	Add the salt to the mixture	30 min
4:00	Fold	30 min
4:30	Lamination	1-1/2 hrs
6:00	1st Stretch & Fold	45 min
6:45	2nd Stretch & Fold	45 min
7:30	3rd Stretch & Fold	45 min
8:15	Shape	15 min
8:30	Overnight Proof	12 hrs
Next Day	Oven Temps *	Time
9:00	Preheat oven + pot to 475	1 hr
10:00	Remove from fridge, score, and bake @ 450 **	20
10:20	Remove lid	10
10:30	Bake @ 425	10-15 min
10:45	Cool in oven with door open***	20 min

*The reason you want to be careful with the temperature and timing is because once the crust is hard, the dough stops rising since there’s no way for the steam to escape. These steps help to maintain the correct temperature and the dutch oven creates a good environment for steaming.

**This is the first time I’ve come across the method of putting the loaf into the oven straight from the fridge. I wonder if that had an effect on how well it rose…

***When bread cools, the moisture that is still inside either evaporates (if it’s in a dry environment), or gets absorbed by the crust. I leanred that this method of letting it “cool” down in the turned off oven with the door open, provides a nice dry envirorment for the moisture to evaporate in, instead of my more humid kitchen.

When it comes time to bake the bread, she recommends a baking stone, a boiler tray lid, and a pan with lava rocks in it. That’s a pretty tall order, so if you would rather use a Dutch oven, here’s her video for how to do that. I figured most of you will use that method, so I included the guideline for oven temp(s) and timing(s) in the chart as well.

Make a sling with parchment paper. That makes it easier to transfer the dough to a hot container, and to lift it out. It also prevents the bottom from being wavy.

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I like to arm myself with as much knowledge as possible. Watching this video is like attending a cooking class. Give it a view and you’ll have a better starting point for making your first loaf above.