A helpful tip for sourdough!
One of the most important steps in sourdough is the autolyse — simply mixing your flour and water and letting it rest before adding starter and salt. This gives the flour time to fully hydrate and allows gluten to begin developing naturally, creating a dough that’s smoother, stretchier, and easier to work with. The result? Better structure, softer texture, and a beautiful loaf with less effort. 🤍
Basic sourdough recipe:
• 500g bread flour
• 350g water
• 100g active starter
• 10g salt
Mix flour + water first and rest 30–60 minutes for the autolyse. Then add starter and salt, stretch & fold, bulk ferment, shape, proof, and bake. 🍞
One personal tip that has truly improved my sourdough baking is the reserved water trick during autolyse. While mixing your flour and water, set aside about 10-15 grams of water before combining. This small amount helps maintain the dough’s hydration balance when you add your starter and salt later, ensuring the dough stays stretchy but not too sticky. I also prefer a rest time of around 45 minutes for the autolyse, as it gives the flour enough time to fully absorb the water and begin natural gluten development without rushing. This creates a dough that feels alive—elastic and smooth—making the stretch and fold technique more effective in building structure. After autolyse, when incorporating the starter and salt, I find gentle folding better than vigorous mixing to preserve the gluten network. Bulk fermenting the dough at a slightly warmer room temperature also enhances yeast activity, resulting in a lighter crumb. A pro tip is to keep an eye on your dough rather than the clock. Sometimes the hydration and gluten strength can vary depending on your flour type or ambient conditions. Adjusting rest times and folds accordingly helps maintain consistent quality. Overall, following these detailed autolyse-focused steps made my homemade sourdough not only easier to handle but also yield a beautiful crust and soft interior every time. Giving this method a try could be a game changer for your bread baking journey too!