Sourdough: How to create it How to use it How to preserve it

Date: 30 november 2010 Author: Arnaldo Maggiora Vergano

There are many way to create your personal new sourdough.

Some way are really complicated (method 1) other easier and faster, depends on us. You can obtain a similar result, but with different level of satisfaction.

How to start a new sourdough? We have more methods:
1) Take a ripe fruit, grind it, mix... too much complicated. I never tried this one.
2) In a plate put 2 tablespoons of flour "00" and 2 tablespoons of white Yogurt, mix with a spoon and cover with a cup
  - after 8 hours refresh with 1 tablespoon of flour and 1 tablespoon of Yogurt, mix with a spoon and cover with a cup
  - after other 24 hours refresh with 1 tablespoon of flour and 1/2 tablespoon of warm water, knead a little and cover with a cup
  - after other 24 hours refresh with 2 tablespoons of flour, 1 tablespoon of warm water and 1/2 teaspoon of sugar, knead a little and cover with a cup
    When your sourdough will be ready to use? The refreshed sourdough must grow more than twice, you can also do the Test you find after.
3) Ask a friend that have it to give you some
4) Ask the baker to give you some

I used and prefer method 2. Used more than once, always worked.

Tips that really helps to make bread at home and preserve sourdough.
• Use water with low calcium and dry residue
• Always use warm water
• If your First Dough didn't grow as expected, put the glass container in warm water and wait until it will grows
• Preserve the sourdough and the First Dough in a glass container
• You can preserve the sourdough for a week in the refrigerator without refreshing it. For a longer period you need to freeze it in this way:
  - Refresh the sourdough, dive it in a a glass container full of water
  - After 4 hours it will float (if not you have a weak sourdough (Test)).
  - Put in the freezer.
• Add a teaspoon of sugar, better if brown sugar or still better honey
   - I always add a teaspoon of honey, it helps leavening.
   - Pay attention to the taste and scent of the honey you will add, the bread could taste so too.
   - If your honey has solidified, solve it in warm water. OBVIOUSLY subtract the quantity of water you add in this way to the quantity needed in the recipe.
   - Do not use chestnut honey, it is bitter and your bread will taste bitter too.
• If the room where you will make bread is too much humid or cold or hot, leavening will be very difficult and probably also the First Dough will not grow double as expected.
• If the room is too cold, and for some reason you cannot use the heating:
  - You can put the sourdough for the First leavening inside the oven with the light turned on.
  - DO NOT start the bread machine in a cold room, your bread will not grow, adopt one of these tips::
  - Try to warm the room.
  - Move the bread machine in a warmer room, but not humid.
  - Get the bread machine container and pour inside some very hot water, wait for the container to warm, empty the container and reallocate it inside the bread machine, be carefull not to burn your hands.
• Flour the top of your First Dough and your refreshed sourdough, shake the container to spread the flour and cover them with a napkin
• Once you started the program of the bread machine, leave it alone until you ear the sound that indicates you can open it and add other ingredients, like bacon, cheese, nuts or what else.
• I'ts better to buy a bread machine with 2 paddles.
• Of course remember to remove the paddles from the bread asap after you remove it from the machine.

Do you have tips to share? Do you have other way to create, use and preserve Sourdough?  Share your experience, send it to me and I will publish your way with your name.

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