{"id":36,"date":"2026-05-20T12:38:27","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T12:38:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress.cherrychapters.com\/crimsonbowl\/?p=36"},"modified":"2026-05-20T12:38:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T12:38:28","slug":"sourdough-bread-crusty-chewy-and-way-easier-than-you-think","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.cherrychapters.com\/crimsonbowl\/2026\/05\/20\/sourdough-bread-crusty-chewy-and-way-easier-than-you-think\/","title":{"rendered":"Sourdough Bread (Crusty, Chewy, and Way Easier Than You Think)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Let’s demystify sourdough. It’s not magic. It’s not a part-time job. It’s flour, water, salt, and a little patience. This recipe gives you a crusty, chewy, tangy loaf with an open crumb and a crackling crust. No slap-and-fold marathon required. Let’s bake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ingredients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Makes 1 large loaf.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
100g active sourdough starter (fed 4\u20136 hours ago, bubbly)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
350g warm water (about 80\u00b0F \/ 27\u00b0C)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
500g bread flour (or all-purpose)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
10g salt (about 2 tsp)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Total flour + water = ~75% hydration.<\/strong> That’s the sweet spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step-by-Step Instructions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Step 1: Mix<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
In a large bowl, whisk starter and water together. Add flour and salt. Mix with your hands until a shaggy dough forms (no dry bits). Cover and rest 30 minutes.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Step 2: Stretch & Fold<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
Over 2 hours, do 3 sets of stretch-and-folds (every 30\u201345 minutes). Wet your hand, grab a side of dough, stretch up, fold over. Rotate bowl and repeat 4 times. Dough will get smoother.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Step 3: Bulk Ferment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
Cover and let dough rise at room temperature for 4\u20136 hours until nearly doubled and bubbly on top.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Step 4: Shape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Fold into a tight round. Place seam-side up into a floured proofing basket or bowl lined with a floured towel.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Step 5: Cold Proof<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
Cover and refrigerate 8\u201324 hours (longer = tangier).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Step 6: Bake<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
Preheat oven to 450\u00b0F (230\u00b0C) with a Dutch oven inside for 30 minutes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Turn dough onto parchment. Score the top with a lame or knife.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lower into hot Dutch oven, cover, bake 20 minutes. Remove lid, bake 20\u201325 minutes more until deep brown.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Cool completely on a rack (at least 1 hour) before slicing.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Prep Time:<\/strong> 20 min active | Ferment + Proof:<\/strong> 12\u201330 hours | Bake:<\/strong> 45 min<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yield:<\/strong> 1 large loaf | Difficulty:<\/strong> Medium (requires starter)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Storage Notes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Counter (cut side down):<\/strong> 3 days. Freezer (sliced):<\/strong> 3 months. Toast frozen slices directly. Never refrigerate\u2014it stales faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
That bakery-style, golden-brown, crackly-crusted sourdough? You can make it. No fancy equipment. No all-day babysitting. Just patience, your starter, and this dead-simple method.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":53,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,6],"tags":[34,35,32,31,30,29,33],"class_list":["post-36","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-baking","category-quick_meals","tag-artisan-bread","tag-bread-baking","tag-crusty-bread","tag-easy-sourdough-recipe","tag-homemade-sourdough","tag-sourdough-bread","tag-sourdough-for-beginners"],"yoast_head":"\n
Sourdough Bread (Crusty, Chewy, and Way Easier Than You Think) - crimsonbowl<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.cherrychapters.com\/crimsonbowl\/2026\/05\/20\/sourdough-bread-crusty-chewy-and-way-easier-than-you-think\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Sourdough Bread (Crusty, Chewy, and Way Easier Than You Think) - crimsonbowl\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"That bakery-style, golden-brown, crackly-crusted sourdough? You can make it. No fancy equipment. No all-day babysitting. 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