05, 2023
What is sourdough bread, exactly?
Here’s what separates this fermented loaf from other types of yeast breads.
Its hard to beat the aroma of freshly baked bread, especially when its the sweet tang of sourdough.
This crusty bread has seen arecent surge in popularitybut what is sourdough and why is it so tasty?
The bread has an airy texture and a distinct flavorheres what sets sourdough apart from other types of bread.
Sourdough got its start before commercial yeasts and mass production were introduced in the 19th century.
Traditional recipes contained a starter, salt and flour.
(Our Test Kitchen answered your burning questions abouthow to use sourdough starter.)
Why Is Sourdough Bread Different?
The starter ferments over time, producing natural yeast and the slightly acidic flavor that sets sourdough apart.
Sourdough bread is also known for its crusty yet airy texture.
What Makes Sourdough Sour?
The sourness of the bread comes from the acids produced in the starter.
If youd like to make a more sour loaf, find a cool spot for the dough to rise.
Or, when mixing the starter, use a higher ratio of flour to water.
(Heres how to make aquick sourdough starter, step by step.)
This bubbly starter mixture ferments for several days.
It requires regular feedings of additional flour and water, which increase its volume.
Part of the sourdough process involves discarding part of your starter before feeding it.
you might use that excess starter to make other things, like thesesourdough discard recipes.
How to Make Sourdough Bread
Its relatively easy to make your own sourdough bread at home.
First, it’s crucial that you make a sourdough starter (or get one from a friend).
However, oursourdough starter recipeuses active dry yeast to help speed the process along.
There are many different sourdough bread recipes with slightly varying methods.
For instance, this no-kneadsourdough bread recipeuses active dry yeast to create a sourdough starter in just 48 hours.
Our step by step guide tohow to make easy sourdough breadis based on this recipe.
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