Sourdough Hydration: What Percentage to Use and Why
Sourdough hydration determines your crumb, crust, and handling difficulty. Learn what 65%, 72%, 78%, and 85%+ hydration each produce and which to use.
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Notes from the oven.
Practical sourdough guides covering hydration, baker's percentages, starter care, flour selection, and baking schedules, with specific numbers and worked examples instead of generic advice.
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Sourdough Starter Feeding Ratios: 1:1:1, 1:5:5, and When to Use Each
Sourdough starter feeding ratios control peak timing, activity, and sourness. Learn when to use 1:1:1 vs 1:5:5 and how to build a feeding schedule.
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Baker's Percentage Explained: The Math Every Sourdough Baker Needs
Baker's percentage makes every sourdough recipe scalable and comparable. Learn how it works, how to read any recipe in it, and how to write your own.
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How to Scale Sourdough Recipes Up or Down Without Ruining Them
Scale sourdough recipes to any dough weight using baker's percentages. Learn what changes when you double a batch and what stays exactly the same.
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Sourdough vs Commercial Yeast: Differences Every Baker Should Know
Sourdough vs commercial yeast: fermentation time, flavor, crumb structure, and nutrition all differ significantly. Here's what actually changes and why.
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How Much Does It Cost to Bake Sourdough at Home in 2026?
Cost of sourdough bread at home: flour, starter maintenance, and energy add up to $1.50–$3.50 per loaf vs $8–$15 at a bakery. Here's the full breakdown.
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7 Common Sourdough Mistakes (and How to Fix Every One)
Most sourdough mistakes come down to fermentation timing, starter health, or hydration mismatch. Here are 7 common problems with specific fixes for each.
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Types of Sourdough Bread: Boule, Batard, Baguette, and More
Types of sourdough bread differ in shape, crumb structure, and ideal hydration. Learn what distinguishes a boule from a batard and how shape affects your bake.
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Best Flour for Sourdough Bread: Bread Flour vs All-Purpose vs Whole Wheat
Best flour for sourdough depends on your goal. Bread flour (12–14% protein) builds stronger gluten than all-purpose (10–12%). Here's the full comparison.
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The Complete Sourdough Baking Schedule for Beginners
A sourdough baking schedule makes the 36-hour process manageable. Here's a day-by-day timeline with same-day and cold-proof variations to fit your life.
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