The Simple Sourdough — Page 3

Side-by-side comparison of 65 percent and 75 percent hydration sourdough dough showing texture differences

What Is Hydration in Sourdough? Percentages Made Simple

Confused by sourdough hydration percentages? Learn what hydration really means in plain English, how to calculate it, and the best level for beginners.

Jun 29, 2026 · 11 min read

Side-by-side comparison of a dense gummy sourdough crumb next to an open airy crumb

ListSourdough Troubleshooting

10 Most Common Beginner Sourdough Mistakes (and Quick Fixes)

Dense, flat, or gummy loaf? Here are the 10 most common beginner sourdough mistakes and the quick fixes that finally give you an open, airy crumb.

Jun 29, 2026 · 12 min read

TroubleshootingSourdough Troubleshooting

Why Won't My Dough Come Together or Stay Together?

Sourdough dough slack, sticky, or tearing? Learn why it won't come together and the simple gluten and hydration fixes that finally make it smooth.

Jun 29, 2026 · 12 min read

Three sourdough loaf cross-sections showing balanced, tunneling, and tight crumb side by side

TroubleshootingSourdough Troubleshooting

My Sourdough Has Big Holes or No Holes: What Went Wrong?

Giant tunnels or a tight, gummy crumb? Learn exactly why your sourdough holes are uneven and how to fix open vs. closed crumb for beginners.

Jun 29, 2026 · 12 min read

Three sourdough loaves compared: too-hard dark crust, ideal golden crust, and pale under-browned crust

TroubleshootingSourdough Troubleshooting

Why Is My Sourdough Crust Too Hard or Too Pale?

Sourdough crust rock-hard or refusing to brown? Learn the steam, temperature, and timing fixes that give you a crisp, golden crust every bake.

Jun 29, 2026 · 11 min read

A flat, dense sourdough loaf next to a tall loaf with a dramatic ear on a marble counter

TroubleshootingSourdough Troubleshooting

Why Didn't My Sourdough Get a Good Oven Spring?

Flat sourdough with no oven spring? Learn the real causes—heat, steam, scoring, proofing, and starter strength—plus simple fixes for a tall, airy loaf.

Jun 29, 2026 · 13 min read

Side-by-side comparison of an under-proofed tight dough and an over-proofed slack dough in proofing baskets

ComparisonSourdough Troubleshooting

Under-Proofed vs. Over-Proofed Sourdough: How to Tell the Difference

Confused by dense or flat loaves? Learn the exact signs of under- vs. over-proofed sourdough, plus the poke test, so you can fix proofing for good.

Jun 29, 2026 · 8 min read

Vertical infographic titled '4 Signs Bulk Fermentation Is Done' showing four sourdough dough cues in stacked photo panels.

ExplainerSourdough Troubleshooting

How to Read Your Dough: Visual Cues for Bulk Fermentation

Learn the exact visual cues—jiggle, bubbles, dome, and rise %—that tell you when sourdough bulk fermentation is done. A beginner's checklist to stop guessing.

Jun 29, 2026 · 12 min read

Side-by-side comparison of a gummy dense sourdough crumb versus a light airy properly baked crumb

TroubleshootingSourdough Troubleshooting

Why Is My Sourdough Gummy or Doughy Inside?

Is the inside of your sourdough wet, gummy, or doughy? Learn how to tell underbaking from under-fermentation and the exact fixes for a light, airy crumb.

Jun 29, 2026 · 12 min read

A flat, spread-out sourdough loaf beside a tall, well-risen golden loaf on a floured wooden board

TroubleshootingSourdough Troubleshooting

Why Is My Sourdough Flat and Spread Out?

Is your sourdough flat, wide, and refusing to rise tall? Learn the 7 real causes of pancake loaves—from over-proofing to weak shaping—and how to fix each one.

Jun 29, 2026 · 14 min read

Comparison of a dense tight-crumb sourdough loaf next to an open airy-crumb loaf

TroubleshootingSourdough Troubleshooting

Why Is My Sourdough Bread So Dense and Heavy?

Dense, heavy sourdough? Here are the 8 most common causes of a tight crumb, ranked, with a simple fix for each so your next loaf rises light and airy.

Jun 29, 2026 · 17 min read

Overhead flat-lay of five finished beginner sourdough breads labeled Week 1 through Week 4 on a wood and marble surface

ListBeginner Sourdough Recipes

5 Beginner Sourdough Recipes to Bake in Your First Month

New to sourdough? Bake these 5 beginner recipes in order—from no-knead loaf to focaccia—to build skills and avoid dense, gummy loaves.

Jun 29, 2026 · 9 min read