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BAStruggling to get a nice oven spring?
You're not alone—this is a common issue for many sourdough beginners. Flat and dense bread can be frustrating, but there are several things you can do to improve your oven spring.
1️⃣ Change the flour you use
Great oven spring starts with high protein flour.
I typically use 12.5% protein bread flour or higher (up to about 14% protein).
Some whole wheat flours are high in protein, but they will generally produce a dense loaf if used alone.
2️⃣ Starter care
Your starter is the heart of your sourdough bread.
Even with the best flour and techniques, a weak starter will result in poor rise and flavor. Ask yourself these questions:
- Is my starter consistently doubling or tripling in size after each feeding?
- Does my starter smell fresh, or does it have an off-putting nail polish acetone smell?
These signs indicate a weak starter.
To strengthen it, maintain consistent feedings and experiment with different ratios to find what works best for YOU.
3️⃣ Shaping method
Shaping is critically important to achieving optimal oven spring.
Using improper shaping techniques, such as tearing or stretching the dough too aggressively, can result in weak gluten development.
Take the time to learn and practice proper shaping techniques, such as gentle folding and stitching, to create tension and structure in your dough.
📣 Check out other @bakestreet.girl content. I shared many tutorials on shaping your dough.
4️⃣ Ensure Adequate Fermentation
Proper fermentation is key.
Make sure your dough is well-fermented but not over-proofed. The bulk fermentation stage should allow the dough to rise significantly and develop flavor without compromising gluten strength. Look for dough that is puffy with visible bubbles on the surface.
Temperature plays a massive role in fermentation:
⚠️ In colder months, let your dough ferment longer. In warmer months, reduce fermentation time.
⚠️ During winter, I let my dough almost double in size. In summer, I refrigerate it earlier to prevent over-fermentation.
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@bakestreet.girl
