



What Happened????
This is my third loaf I’ve tried baking.
(If someone doesn’t make sense, I was using talk to text)
The first loaf I followed a guidebook and I did not use a weight scale. I used measurements. I used 1/2 cup of starter, one and a half cups of warm water, 2 teaspoons of salt, and 4 1/8 cups, all purpose unbleached flour. After mixing it together, I let it sit for an hour. Then I did two stretch and folds every half hour two times. After that I did two coil and folds every half an hour for one hour. So basically I did stretch and fold, coil and folds, four times in two hours. Then I let it bulk ferment, for four hours. Then I put it in the refrigerator for 12 hours. This was all recommended by the guide booklet. I baked it in an aluminum Dutch oven at 450°. I baked it for 40 minutes with the lid on and 20 minutes with it off. This first loaf came out pretty decent on the outside, but when cut open, there was a lot of big holes. Per the guide, it said I under fermented it. Didn’t have much of a taste either.
The second loaf I used measuring scale. I followed the book guide directions again except this time I used weight. 100 g of starter, 350 g of water, 500 g of flour, and 10 g of salt. Let it sit for an hour. In a two hour time span I did to stretch and fold and two coil folds. This time I let it bulk ferment for about five hours. This time I put it in the refrigerator for about 24 hours. I used the same aluminum Dutch oven. Baked at 450°. 40 minutes with a lid on, 25 with it off. This loaf looked great on the outside. But this time it seemed like it didn’t rise as much in the oven. The holes were tighter in the bread when cut open this time. This time it had a better taste though.
My third and most recent loaf, which is the pictures of above.
This time I use the 1 – 2–3 ratio(starter-water-flour). I changed a couple things up this time though. I continued to use a weight scale. This time I used 150 g of starter, 300 g of water, 450 g of organic unbleached bread flour(rather than all purpose flour), and 10 g of salt. I let it sit for 1 hour after mixing ingredients. I did the same two stretch and folds and two coil folds in a two hour time period. This time I let it bulk ferment for about 12 hours. It looked great in the glass bowl. Plenty of gas bubbles and some appearing on top. It also doubled in size. This time when shaping it, though it seemed to be a little stickier. I put it in the refrigerator, for 24 hours this time. When I took it out today, it was completely sticky, lacked form/shape. I couldn’t even use the razor blade on the top. I still decided to try to work with it and bake it and it came out horrible.
What could be going wrong? Suggestions.
If I had to choose, I would say I’m messing up on the bulk fermentation process. Maybe leaving it in the refrigerator too long? Maybe the aluminum Dutch oven? Who knows
Please help
by FunLifecouple

8 Comments
How old is your starter?
I would say buy an aliquot jar and watch your proofing. It looks over fermented and undercooked. You can use cup measurements but i think the real problem is bulk fermentation is off. You’ve succeeded in making frisbees and personally I would consider that a win. Also 450 for 40 minutes covered is a long time idk how it looks undercooked if you’re doing that. My big question is what is an aluminum Dutch oven??? Are you baking it entirely in tin foil?
Bulk fermentation maybe. 5 hours is too little, 12 hours is too much (based on your descriptions).
Then fridge – is it holding temperature of 39°F or lower on the shelf you put the dough in its basket?
At 40°F+ my dough will continue fermenting, slowly, and it results in over proofing the dough.
What temperature are you fermenting your dough in (whether it is room temp or proofing chamber)?
I would keep with the long fermentation ( until it’s close to doubling) and reduce the water by 15% until you get the shaping thing down. Then proof it at room temperature after shaping for ~2-3 hours before refrigerating it. It needs to be fluffier when it goes into the oven and also not flatten so much.
Stop doing your bulk fermentation by timing and do it by sight. Make sure the dough has doubled in size and has bubbles throughout. A clear bowl Or container will really help.
https://preview.redd.it/04zjlgb0j2bg1.jpeg?width=3213&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b7fdf93cb9ae58b70618c3b5d282150ea40c81e5
This site will help you a lot: [https://thesourdoughjourney.com/the-ultimate-sourdough-bulk-fermentation-guide/](https://thesourdoughjourney.com/the-ultimate-sourdough-bulk-fermentation-guide/)
That last loaf looks like zero fermentation. Maybe your water is too hot and killing all the starter?
I don’t have a tall plastic container to see if the volume doubled so I get a small sauce container like the ones they give you for salsa when you get burritos (1oz or 1/2oz) and cut a small piece of the dough right after mixing and fill it about half way or a little higher. I keep that container near or even on top of the main dough to keep the same temp and my bulk ferment is done when the baby dough reaches the top of the container. You can either toss or just fold it in during your shaping before putting it in the fridge for cold ferment. I think this technique was named after a person but I don’t remember the name