We are well into December my friends and with winter comes colder temperatures. Yes, even here in south Florida.
If you are new to sourdough this year, you will soon discover just how much the temperature affects all aspects of baking sourdough - from the starter to the dough. Trust me on this one. Your starter will take much longer to ferment and your dough will too! But I am here to help you with both, so find a warm spot for you and your starter and let's get started...
It will take your starter a much longer time to reach peak and your dough won’t bulk ferment nearly as fast - this is something I didn’t understand as a new sourdough baker, but after baking through all the seasons (again, even in Florida) I have learned how to use the temperature shifts to my advantage. All you have to do is increase your fermentation times for your starter and your dough.
Here is a sample winter baking schedule:
9:00 pm: feed sourdough starter a higher ratio (1:3:3 or higher)- if you live in a really cold climate you may not have to feed a high ratio, a 1:2:2 might be just fine. *more on this below ⬇️
6:30 am: prep dough.
7:00-8:30 am: stretch and folds (3 sets every 30 minutes)
8:30-3:30 pm: finish bulk fermentation (remember this time is temperature dependent, so if you live in a very cold climate, it will extend the time)
3:30 pm: pre-shape
4:00 pm: final shape and bake or put in banneton and then into the fridge for cold proof.
This baking schedule can be adjusted to fit into your life + schedule. Remember, don’t let sourdough run your life, just find places to fit it in!
*colder temperatures slow down fermentation, so a higher ratio gives the yeast more food to work with over a longer period of time, ensuring it reaches peak activity by morning when you’re ready to make dough. Essentially the higher ratio (larger feeding) helps compensate for the slow fermentation due to cold temperatures.
Hope this helps you navigate the colder temperatures coming up. And for more tips (including more baking schedules), head to my Stan Store!
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