A good loaf of sourdough is essential for any baker to master, but it can also be quite a tricky one to get right. Getting the perfect rise is all about temperature – from the room temperature and ingredients to the dough and the finished bake. We invited Colm Tohill, a baker with 25 years’ experience crafting perfect loaves, to our Thermapen test kitchen to show us his favourite sourdough bread recipe.

Temperatures

Bake in the oven until the bread reaches an internal temperature of around 98-99°C. 

Yeast: 50-60°C

Dough: 36°C

Bread:  98-99°C

A Healthier Choice

Did you know that sourdough has a number of possible health benefits? It's said to be more gut-friendly, nutritious, and easier to digest than regular bread. It also has less of an impact on blood sugar levels, and some research suggests that it could reduce the risk of heart disease.

Ingredients

Makes 2-3 loaves

• 850g strong white flour
• 50g wholewheat flour
• 100g dark rye flour
• 22g salt
• 1 x 7g sachet fast action dried yeast
• 500g starter from the fridge (approx 5 – 7°C)
• 500-600ml water

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 250°C fan.

• Combine all of the dry ingredients and take the temperature of the mixture. Subtract this number from 72. The resulting number is the temperature you need your water to be. This is usually between 50-60°C as it needs to be warm enough to activate the yeast.
• Place the dry ingredients into a mixer. Add the starter and water (you can start with 500ml of water and gradually add more if necessary as it mixes).
• Mix on a slow speed for 3-4 minutes, then 8 minutes on a medium speed. Take a temperature reading of the dough. The ideal temperature is 36°C. To check if your dough has been kneaded enough, you can use the window pane test. Tear off a small ball of dough and stretch it between your fingers into a thin, translucent window. If the dough stretches without breaking it’s ready to prove.
• Take the dough out and place in an oiled tub (use a container with sides because it will grow). Add some flour on top, cover with a cloth and leave to prove for 1 hour.

Fold the dough

• Fold the dough from east to west a few times before tipping onto a floured cloth. Cover the dough for another 45 minutes, or until doubled in size, and then gently flip onto a floured surface. Divide as necessary and transfer each loaf onto a baking tray lined with paper and sprinkled with a little flour.

Bake and enjoy

• Bake in the oven until the bread reaches an internal temperature of around 98-99°C. This should take about 45 minutes.

Colm Tohill

Baker

@oursoulbakery

"My Thermapen is used every day in the bakery; it's so easy to use and very reliable. Taking accurate temperature measurements is essential for both fermentation purposes and finished temperature readings. It's an essential tool for any baker."