bulk fermentation

Gluten Development in Sourdough: Why You Stretch and Fold (And What It’s Doing to Your Bread)

· March 31, 2026
Gluten Development in Sourdough: Why You Stretch and Fold (And What It's Doing to Your Bread)

Nearly every home baker starts out assuming that dough basically develops itself — that if you mix flour, water, salt, and starter and just leave it alone long enough, structure shows up on its own. That exact assumption is what wrecked the loaf I proudly set on the counter the first time my in-laws came … Read more

Cold Proof vs Room Temperature Proof: I Did 12 Side-by-Side Bakes to Find Out Which Is Better

· February 10, 2026
Cold Proof vs Room Temperature Proof: I Did 12 Side-by-Side Bakes to Find Out Which Is Better

Half the sourdough advice floating around tells you cold proofing overnight is the only responsible way to build flavor and get clean scores. The other half swears room temperature is the real secret to an open, glassy crumb. One of those camps is dead wrong, or at least missing half the story — and I … Read more