Any Home Bakers Here?

[N F C]

I have been trying to make sour dough bread using wild yeast. My starter seems to be doing great but my bread no so great. I know it takes a lot longer to raise than using packaged yeast. I'm not giving up until I get it right. It doesn't pass the window pane test.

Hi cmom, great to see you here!

@ronott1 is a great resource for all things sour dough. He should be along some time today and will probably have some tips for you.

If you haven't seen it yet, there's an index on page 1 of this thread showing all the wonderful recipes that have been posted along with links to make finding them easier.

Make yourself at home!

 

[ronott1]

I have been trying to make sour dough bread using wild yeast. My starter seems to be doing great but my bread no so great. I know it takes a lot longer to raise than using packaged yeast. I'm not giving up until I get it right. It doesn't pass the window pane test.

You need a mature starter. If you started it yourself, it takes 6 months to a year to raise bread. I have made the offer before--send me a pm with your address and I will mail you a mature starter--it is likely several hundred years old!

Hi cmom, great to see you here!

@ronott1 is a great resource for all things sour dough. He should be along some time today and will probably have some tips for you.

If you haven't seen it yet, there's an index on page 1 of this thread showing all the wonderful recipes that have been posted along with links to make finding them easier.

Make yourself at home!

Yes!

Sourdough is great stuff. I have had one going since 1984. I have two different ones now.

 

[cmom]

Quote:
Thanks, I have spent hours online researching sour dough bread. Many do use packaged yeast in their starter. I am not. My starter seems fine and is bubbling away. I tried making bread yesterday. I didn't bake it yet so I think I'm going to punch it down and give it another try. I'm feeding it every day.

 

[ronott1]

Thanks, I have spent hours online researching sour dough bread. Many do use packaged yeast in their starter. I am not. My starter seems fine and is bubbling away. I tried making bread yesterday. I didn't bake it yet so I think I'm going to punch it down and give it another try.

I made this with my starter--no commercial yeast in it:



It can take twice as long for sourdough to raise a loaf. Mine does not take that long. The recipe I use for the rounds has very long rise times--I generally cut that in half.

 

[cmom]

Should I feed my starter just before I use it when it's the most active?

 

[cmom]

Quote: I have the bubbles in my dough. Just like your picture. But the outside also has the bubbles. I did them in loaf pans because my husband wanted them in loaf form.

 

[ronott1]

Should I feed my starter just before I use it when it's the most active?

If you want to make the dough very active, you need to feed it a couple of times a week until it starts punching up the dough fast enough.

 

[cmom]

I have some errands to do today. I'm going to get some whole grain flour to do another starter. I will use some of what I have to start the new starter. You said you have another different one. What do you use?

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I have been feeding it every day.

 

[cmom]

Is your ratio 1:1?