Will It Be Tough ?

[JckDanls 07]

To make bread without any kind of mixer ?

I am very green when it comes to this Sour Dough stuff... Don't have a clue how to go about it except for the few things that Rick and John ( Fueling Around ) have told me so far to get it started..

So Rick ( BGKYSmoker ) sent me some SD Starter a while ago... I have been hesitant/scared to get it started. Don't know what to use for the vessel to put the starter in... And then if getting it started is successful. Then comes the feeding. How much to discard, How much to feed it... Then comes time to mix and make bread.. How much to mix with discard.. Not sure if it can be done by hand mixing or if some kind of machine would be needed for mixing... and so on and so on...

As you can see, yes, I am very green... But the loaves y'all are putting out has my mouth watering...

 

[mneeley490]

You can do it by hand, but a mixer with a good dough hook is much easier.

 

[DRKsmoking]

I am sure the experts will be here to help you with it all.

It took me a bit to jump in , Dave sandyut gave me the cliff notes on how to get it all started when he sent me some starter also.

Any recipe that you are going to do will tell you how much starter ( once you have yours started and living )

I used to have a large mixer at one time ( wish I had kept it ) but I did not use it enough so sold it ( what an ass, because they are a lot more now )

I mix all mine by hand, and so for so good in them working out .

David

 

[DRKsmoking]

Keith
Here is a web site that helped me to get started

and another I will add in a minute

Sourdough Bread: A Beginner's Guide - The Clever Carrot

This easy, step-by-step beginner's guide and sourdough bread recipe will teach you how to make THE BEST, fresh homemade sourdough bread (no yeast). Baked in a Dutch oven. No-kneading required. This sourdough bread recipe is light, chewy and tangy!

www.theclevercarrot.com

This one also helped me , and she is funny to watch. I used the jars she has also for my starter. And some good recipes

Sourdough Starter Recipe (VIDEO)

Learn how to make this easy sourdough starter with only 2 ingredients (flour and water). Homemade starter works for any sourdough recipe.

natashaskitchen.com

And Amy is good also, this is where I got my soft sandwich bread from

Sourdough Bread and Discard Baking Recipes - Amy Bakes Bread

Learn how to make sourdough bread and browse hundreds of the best sourdough recipes on the internet! With detailed step by step instructions and expert tips you’ll be an artisan bread baker in no time!

amybakesbread.com

David

 

[sandyut]

we are all here to help! To get the starter going, I used a quart mason jar with a lid. add enough water the the starter (assuming its dried) and 1/4 cup flour and enough filtered water to make it like thick pancake batter. Let it sit where it warm. It may not start immediately but be patient, yeast is rather hard to kill. leave the lid loose. It should start to bubble eventually, then you can feed 1/4 cup daily to get it good and fired up, discard as needed. IN THE TRASH, not in the sink. Once its going strong feed, crank the lid on and toss it in the refer. it can stay there a long time without fussing with it.

The basic process is generally the same with minor nuances, I like the simplest version. Let me know if you need and I'll send it over.

 

[chef k-dude]

I'm in. Just getting started myself. A neighbor gave me some of her live starter so I've been feeding it every week and keeping in the fridge. We got sick the last week so haven't been out to get any bread flour (a lot of info out there, whole wheat flour bread flour, AP flour, etc.) which is part of the recipe she gave me copies of which is basically the King Arthur instructions:

Sourdough Starter

This is the tried-and-true method we use for making homemade sourdough starter here at King Arthur, and we feel you'll have success with our sourdough starter recipe.

www.kingarthurbaking.com

The actual bread recipe she gave me is a no knead...which is good because some recipes have you kneading for 7-10 minutes...not sure I have the hand and arm strength for that right now!

I HAVE already tried a brownie recipe using the starter re-feed discard and once I re-baked it to basically double the time (my oven may be suspect right now) they turned out pretty good. All kinds of stuff you can make with the discard rather than throw it out, pizza dough, scones, etc.

That's all I've done so far. Seems really daunting and a bit complicated but our neighbor says it becomes second nature once you get the hang of it. She prep's hers the night before at dinnertime and bakes it in the morning. She brings us a loaf sometimes and I made the mistake of asking for starter! Now I will have to share at some point!

Dreams of sun-dried tomato sourdough dancing in my head...

 

[chopsaw]

Do a 50/50 mix of whole wheat and all purpose flour for feeding .

I use store bought spring water , or fill a jar with tap water and leave it sit on the counter with no lid overnight to off gas the chlorine .

Start with a small amount of the dried starter .
10 grams . Feed 1:1:1 . So 10 grams flour mix , 10 grams water .
Let it sit in a warm spot out of direct light .
Next day ( 24 hours later ) feed 1:1:1 again NO discard .
So , 30 grams flour , 30 grams water .
Continue that for 4 days before discarding .
If you discard to early , you tossing what you're building up .

I use a pint mason jar .
I keep an empty pint jar on the counter .
I weigh the empty jar , then zero the scale .
That way you can see what's in the starter jar , and feed accordingly .

 

[voyager 663rd]

i haven't used a mixer ever since I discovered Jim Lahey No Knead method(s).
This is one recipe

Jim Lahey's No-Knead Bread

Jim Lahey’s no-knead bread turned traditional bread making upside down for all of us. Made with just flour, yeast, salt, and water, the bread is the fastest, easiest, and best you may ever make. #bread #noknead #easyrecipe #nokneadbread

leitesculinaria.com

I have the Ken Forkish book (he has 4 out IIRC) which is Flour Water Salt Yeast.

This method is sooo good. It minimizes the flavour that yeast imparts and brings out the fabulous flavour that different grains can bring to a loaf.

I grind my own wheat, spelt and rye grains and then mix and match when baking.

 

[JLinza]

This makes me feel better... Rick BGKYSmoker was kind enough to send me a starter as well. I've been so busy with the kids in the heart of wrestling season, but I've been nervous too. I'll be following along for sure as it sounds like we are in the same boat...

 

[BGKYSmoker]

For y"all just starting out I would suggest hand mixing. Use a large enough bowl, silicon spatula or large spoon. Using a mixer can fast over mix and ruin the gluten network.

 

[JckDanls 07]

Will Reverse Osmosis water be ok ?? Or should I just use my well water that is run through a softner and an aerator (no chlorine)?

Also... I have King Arthur unbleached AP flour... Will this work ??

 

[chopsaw]

I have King Arthur unbleached AP flour... Will this work ??

That's what I used this morning to feed .

Is the well water drinkable ? I would use that if it is . Should have some mineral content in the water .

 

[JckDanls 07]

Is the well water drinkable

Yes it is... Although we use the RO water for drinking...

 

[sandyut]

I use the organic flour from costco with no additives. its cheap 20lb a pack

 

[JckDanls 07]

I use the organic flour from costco with no additives. its cheap 20lb a pack

Good to know.. although I'm not a Costco member...

Speaking of memberships.. Even though I've heard this before (here I think).. There was an article in the paper today about how to shop Costco as a guest... Just have a member buy a gift card and a guest can go shop without a member...

 

[Fueling Around]

Went to sleep on this Keith.
Follow Rick's instructions to get the dried starter wet and ready to get going on the feed regimen.

Use a clean quart jar to start. I think you have a few o them around the house?
I never thought of it, but Rich's method of no discard for the first few days makes a lot of sense.

Will Reverse Osmosis water be ok ?? Or should I just use my well water that is run through a softner and an aerator (no chlorine)?
...

No to RO and softened water. I don't know how hard your water is but the added sodium ions may interfere with the yeast growth.
I use tap water run through a Brita filter.
Get a jug of spring water (not distilled) from the store.

 

[sandyut]

Good to know.. although I'm not a Costco member...

Speaking of memberships.. Even though I've heard this before (here I think).. There was an article in the paper today about how to shop Costco as a guest... Just have a member buy a gift card and a guest can go shop without a member...

Not sure about that, but you can go with a member and have them run it on their membership in separate purchases. I see that all the time.

I bought into the Executive membership and try to buy as much as we can their. the 2% back more than pays for the $120 annual fee. then another 2% on the cash back visa. S***ts too expensive not to work every angle.

 

[chopsaw]

Rich's method of no discard for the first few days makes a lot of sense.

My starter came from Rick as well , and that comes from him also .
First discard was on day 4 . I started with 9 grams dried starter .

You'll question yourself , just keep going . It will happen . He talked me off the edge at least twice when I started mine .

 

[JckDanls 07]

Use a clean quart jar to start. I think you have a few o them around the house

LOL.. No, I don't save em after they get empty... I may have to go buy one and empty it of it's contents (not in one sitting though) so I have an empty jar ...

 

[Fueling Around]

... I may have to go buy one and empty it of it's contents (not in one sitting though) so I have an empty jar ...

I know how you can empty it in one sitting .....