Our Method & Philosophy
The Sourdough Lifestyle method is a way to incorporate sourdough baking into a real, busy, and modern schedule. It’s a way of baking that focuses on simplicity, listening rather than imposing, flexibility rather than rigidity, and self-improvement through experimentation.
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Following the Sourdough Lifestyle should feel natural, stress reducing, and pride inducing. Just as in life, the joy of baking should be in the journey, not just the destination, and we want to be your guides and cheerleaders as you begin diving into the world of real, honest bread.
The three core principles of the Sourdough Lifestyle method are:
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Focus on learning the basics and understanding the purpose of each step of the process.
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Use the long rising times required to make sourdough to your advantage.
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Embrace making delicious everyday loaves instead of the always elusive "perfect" loaf.
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What is different about the Sourdough Lifestyle method?
There is a massive amount of information out there about sourdough baking, much of which is filled with confusing jargon and contradictory advice. When new bakers start to dive into that information, it can quickly get overwhelming and intimidating. Like exploring a vast cave with only a small flashlight, it can feel like around every corner there’s some new huge unknown that needs to be mastered before the “perfect” loaf can be made. Some people find these nooks and crannies exhilarating – and that’s great! – but for most people it’s daunting and ultimately leads to them getting frustrated and giving up.
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Our method approaches baking sourdough from a different perspective. Instead of getting distracted by the rabbit holes, we focus on the basics.
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We have broken the process down into six parts that anyone can understand. Those parts then create a solid foundation for growing and expanding knowledge in an organic and natural way so that home bakers can then explore with confidence.
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Process Overview
At its core, there are six basic parts to making a loaf of sourdough bread:
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Starter Feeding – Mixing – Rising – Shaping – Proofing – Baking
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Each of these parts is critical to the end result, so focusing on and understanding them individually allows the baker to build a solid foundation for the process as a whole. This process also allows for troubleshooting issues in a productive way. Take a look at the materials available below for more information.
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Material Downloads:
Sourdough Lifestyle Starter Care & Basic Recipe