A visual step-by-step guide to Sourdough bread

I am a visual learner. I love step-by-step guides with pictures so I thought I would put together one of my own. This is a long post, but I think it will be educational.

1. Feed the Sourdough (the night before, follow my starter schedule) - top view














2. Side view, note the rubberband

























3. The next day


















4. Mixing the dough, first zero the scale (on grams)














5. Start with 15g Salt then zero the scale again














6. Add 50g of White Whole Wheat flour














7. Add another 50g of All-Purpose flour














8. Throw in the 10g of Buckwheet and start adding regular Bread flour














9. Add slowly until the total FLOUR amount is 450g














10. Zero the scale once again














11. Add 325-350g water (carefully and slowly, you want to keep the dough a bit dry)














12. Start to mix the dough, I use a wooden baton














13. It will come together














14. And eventually start to look like this














15. Though the consistency you are looking for is closer to this (dry)














16. Cover (I do two batches at once) and let mix & rise overnight (8-11 hours)














17. This is what you will wake up to (top view)














18. Side view














19. I get my workspace set-up with plenty of flour for dusting














20. Spread out a layer of flour














21. Scoop out the dough onto the flour














22. Fold over the dough














23. Fold over again, covering with flour














24. Prepare a pot (or bowl) with parchment paper and Rice Flour (more on that in another blog post)














25. Place the dough (formed into a semi-tight ball) in the pot














26. Cover with saran wrap again and allow to rest for 45-95 minutes














27. The dough will have "proofed" and will look like this














28. Take the pre-heated (45 minutes) dutch-oven out of the 450 degree oven














29. Using the four corners of the parchment paper, transfer the dough from the proofing pot/bowl to the dutch oven (be careful NOT to touch the sides!)














30. Slash the top of the loaf with a razor-blade














31. Put the dutch-oven lid on and slide into the 450 degree oven for 26-27 minutes














32. After 26-27 (or 30 depending on your oven) minuets, open the oven and take the lid off, close the oven door for another 13-15 minutes














33. Finished product (after approx 45-55 minuets baking @450 degrees)














34. Carefully remove the dutch-oven from the oven and the bread from the dutch oven (again use the corners of the parchment, but be careful of the sides) and transfer to a wire cooling rack














35. Allow to cool for at least 60 minutes and then dust the rice flour off the bottom of the loaf

























36. Slice with your favorite bread knife and enjoy!














37. bon appetit !















-Matt the weekend Baker