How to Make Simple Sourdough Bread @ Home: Bread Machine Instructions

In March 2024 I went to a Sourdough Workshop and learned how to make sourdough. Everyone was sent home with 25g of starter and basic instructions of how make it yourself. After months of practice in the kitchen I’ve finally perfected my loaf and my sourdough process – I am sure this will be ever evolving but I wanted to share my step by step guide. In this recipe the bread machine is only going to be used to mix your ingredients, we are not going to bake the loaf in the bread maker.

Are you new to sourdough? If so, you can check out some of my top tips and tricks on my Learning How to Make Sourdough Bread post.

Serving: 1 loaf of bread or 2 mini loaves. Time: around 8.5 hours

If you don’t have a bread maker no worries – check out my How to Make Simple Sourdough Bread @ Home recipe.

Ingredients:

• 150 g of sourdough starter – this is ~ 1/2 cup
• 450 g of unbleached all purpose flour – this is ~ 3 1/2 cups + 2 tablespoons
• 300 g of filtered water – this is ~ 1 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons
• 10 g of fine pink Himalayan salt – this is ~1 3/4 teaspoon

Step One: Add the sourdough starter, unbleached all purpose flour, filtered water, and salt into the bread machine. Use the dough setting only, this setting will mix all of your ingredients over a period of 1.5 hours.

Step Two: Once the bread machine has finished the dough cycle place the dough on a lightly floured surface. If you’d like to make two mini loaves, separate the dough into two equal portions (see below photo). If you’d like to make one large loaf then just shape it into one round loaf.

Step Three: Do your first stretch and fold right after Step Two, this means taking a small portion of the dough and folding it into the center. I do this in three sections; top right to the center, top left to the center, and then bottom left to the center and then flip it over and shape it into a circle using your hands cupped around the perimeter. Let rest for 30 minutes.

Step Four: Do a second round of stretch and fold, let rest 30 minutes.

Step Five: Do a third round of stretch and fold, let rest 30 minutes. Note: I’ve made delicious light fluffy bread doing just two stretch and folds so if you don’t have time feel free to skip the 3rd and 4th.

Step Six: Do a fourth round of stretch and fold, let rest 30 minutes.

Step Seven: Leave the dough on the counter to bulk ferment for 3-4 hours.

Step Eight: Pre-heat your dutch oven in your oven at 450 degrees for 45 minutes. I usually turn on the oven an hour before my bulk ferment in Step Seven is finished. Your dutch oven should have the lid on during the heating process. I use this dutch oven from Lodge, at just $60 it’s a real deal.

Step Nine: Place your dough on a large piece of parchment paper. If you made two mini loaves then put one on the parchment and wrap the other in plastic wrap (see below photo) and place it in the fridge to bake another day (or leave it on the counter if you plan to bake it right your first loaf). When you are ready to bake the other mini-loaf just start at Step Eight above.

Step Ten: Score your loaf with a bread lame – this is using the edge of a sharp razor perpendicular to the surface of the dough and making a quick decisive slash. Scoring allows for an even internal structure while allowing the loaf to attain its shape and maximum volume.

Step Eleven: When your dutch oven has been in the oven for 45 minutes carefully pull it out and place the dutch oven on top of the stove. Carefully remove the lid and place your loaf on the parchment paper in the middle of the dutch oven. Put the lid back on.

Step Twelve: For one large loaf bake at 450 degrees for 30 minutes, then take the lid off and bake for an additional 12-15 minutes. If you are baking a mini loaf, bake at 450 degrees for 20 minutes, then take the lid off and bake for an additional 6-8 minutes.

Step Thirteen: Let cool on the counter or on a baking rack for at least 30 minutes. I know it’s hard to wait but your loaf is still baking and developing the texture as it cools.

Enjoy! I like to serve my sourdough with fresh homemade jam or homemade salted butter.

Want to learn how to make your own butter at home? Check out my post How to Make Homemade Butter – it just takes 2 ingredients and 10 minutes!

Do you want to learn how to make fresh homemade jam? Check out my Farm Fresh to Favorite Recipes page for several jam recipes.

Questions? Leave a comment on the post if you’d like.