Dear First name / friend,
And just like it's Sunday again! Is the weather starting to change where you live? Maybe the first signs of fall are on their way or perhaps you're due for some warmer weather? I've snuck a few fall inspired recipes into the bottom of this email!
This week I'm going to talk about getting a more open crumb sourdough.
“No matter what I do, I can never get that open, lacy crumb I see in all the photos. I don't need the perfect crumb … but I do want it to be more open and airy”.
Now, just like the crust (that we spoke about last week), there are a million variations of “the perfect crumb”. But many people want that open, lacy crumb. It's light, airy and oh so delicious!
And whether it's your preference or not, it's always good to be able to produce a lighter, more open crumb, right?
So how do you get your alveoli (that's the technical term for the “holes” in sourdough bread) to open up?
Well, just like most things in sourdough, an open crumb occurs when you are able to get a number of elements right. Open crumb sourdough is a result of:
- Strong & healthy sourdough starter
- Your choice of flour
- Accurate fermentation
- Correct shaping technique with adequate dough tension
- Understanding sourdough proofing
I've written a full guide to getting a more open crumb sourdough here - with a full explanation of each point and how you can make it work for you. There's even an easy to follow video!
If you're looking for a fall inspired sourdough recipe to try this week - why not give this Easy Pumpkin Sourdough Loaf a try. Or if you want something a bit quicker, these pumpkin sourdough muffins are well worth a bake (and you can use up some of your discard)! And just because I love pumpkin … I created a sourdough pumpkin cracker recipe too!
Oh and if you missed last week's question - you can read the question and answer here.
If you want to give your sourdough journey a boost, why not grab my ebook bundle? You'll get both of my super informative books “Sourdough Made Easy” and “Scheduling Sourdough” for a great deal!
As always, I love to see your sourdough wins - and help you with any problems you might be having. Have a question you'd like answered on my site? Let me know!
Until next week,
Wishing you sourdough success,
Kate
