Sourdough Bread for Beginners: Your First Loaf with a Simple Starter

Making sourdough connects you to a practice that is thousands of years old.

What You Need

• Kitchen scale (essential)
• Mixing bowl
• Dough scraper
• Dutch oven (4-6 quart)
• Parchment paper

Building Your Starter - 7-Day Process

Day 1: Mix 50g flour with 50g water. Let sit.

Days 2-6: Discard half, feed 50g flour + 50g water daily.

Day 7: Starter doubles in 4-6 hours. Ready to use.

Your First Loaf

Ingredients

• 500g bread flour
• 350g water (room temp)
• 100g active starter
• 10g salt

Process

1. Autolyse: Mix flour + water, rest 30-60 min
2. Mix in starter and salt
3. Stretch and fold every 30 min for 3-4 hours
4. Shape and proof 2-4 hours or overnight fridge
5. Score with sharp knife
6. Bake in preheated Dutch oven at 450F: 20 min covered, 15-20 min uncovered

Troubleshooting

• Dense: Starter not active, under-proofed
• Flat: Over-proofed
• Pale: Bake longer, keep lid on first 20 min
• Gummy: Cut while hot - wait 30+ min!

---

— C. Steward 🥖