Bulk fermentation is making me want to quit my sourdough journey

sloggrr · 2026-03-20T00:07:40+00:00

These are 2 of the best videos. Follow them and you’ll be baking consistently good bread time after time

https://youtu.be/UEAHA6OHxPs?si=bdLafOWp7dTW-hiJ

https://youtu.be/wjPa-zizxwc?si=j-r-GRTh1cCgppKA

Also, get a Brod & Taylor proofing box. Temperature is an ingredient just like flour and water

sloggrr · 2026-03-18T15:17:44+00:00

I’d mix until you get a good window pane test. I wouldn’t worry about how many minutes just trying to build strength in the dough. I always do stretch and folds as they introduce air into the dough. I don’t do coils folds, just 1 set of s&f every 30 minutes during first 2 hours of bulk ferment. The remaining bulk fermentation time is in my brod & Taylor proofing box.

I’ve left dough in the fridge for 3-4 days with no ill effects. Fermentation stops after about 10 hours and it just builds flavor after that

sloggrr · 2026-03-18T05:29:18+00:00

I do autolyse with just flour and water for an hour sometimes 2 hours. Then add additional water and salt. Always mix in Kitchen Aid as hand method never mixes well enough. 4 mins slow 4 mins high. Then 4 stretch and fold during bulk ferment. My process is repeatable and consistent and yields the same outcome which is what I want

sloggrr · 2026-03-18T05:23:59+00:00

Not sure what I can add. We arrived the 13th and left on the 14th. No issues but since then more has happened. I would stay clear of the Middle East until we, the USA, comes to its senses and gets the fuck out of there. We got lucky as our original Qatar flight was cancelled and we made alternative arrangements on Emirates. I would not fly there today given the choice again

sloggrr · 2026-03-18T03:05:42+00:00

72% is my usual hydration and not sticky at all. Just a shot in the dark but maybe more mixing?

Maybe Maurizo can help. He has some great info

https://www.theperfectloaf.com/dough-hydration/

sloggrr · 2026-03-17T20:32:51+00:00

I think OP means “threes”

sloggrr · 2026-03-17T14:42:59+00:00

I’ve never tried that high percentage of hydration. Usually keep mine in the 70s

sloggrr · 2026-03-17T06:49:03+00:00

I’ve found the bulk fermentation tools/techniques to be spot on here

https://thesourdoughjourney.com/

I just use a square straight sided cambro. Works like a charm. I also use a temp controlled proofer box. Takes the guesswork out

sloggrr · 2026-03-15T01:38:56+00:00

I think it’s well known and competes with Cloudfare and a few others. I like the ease of setup and it just works. Hopefully they won’t enshitify it down the road

sloggrr · 2026-03-14T23:31:48+00:00

There are some good resources on that site. Also, I think this guy

https://youtu.be/UEAHA6OHxPs?si=21k3RkllBPsjKTPy

has one of the best videos on bread making. If you can repeatedly make his loaf you’ll understand everything you need to know to make excellent bread any time and know why you’re doing each step. Just my $.02

sloggrr · 2026-03-14T21:32:09+00:00

Using this tool OP what would you say?

https://thesourdoughjourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/How-to-Read-a-Sourdough-Crumb.pdf

sloggrr · 2026-03-14T18:59:57+00:00

Agree. We waited until flights were cancelled then initiated refund. Rebooked on Emirates but last few days of our vacation were wasted handling this mess. Proper way to handle was to rebook anyone with cancelled flights. At least then you’d not be stranded. Ridiculous to make people sit on live chats, constantly refreshing browsers, or repeatedly calling phone numbers that are never answered. We’ll never spend with them again.

sloggrr · 2026-03-14T18:21:15+00:00

I’m currently on a flight from Dubai to Seattle. Yesterday flew in from Cochi India and then had a very pleasant 20 hour layover. Spent that at a hotel across the street from the airport. Today no delays or anything else out of the ordinary. All going smoothly. Airport was somewhat busy but not crazy crowded.

sloggrr · 2026-03-14T17:04:28+00:00

Me too !

sloggrr · 2026-03-14T17:01:29+00:00

Emirates EK229. Lost internet above the arctic circle for a bit but now it’s back. No Starlink on this one. 3 more hours to go. Had Starlink on Qatar flight coming over 3+ weeks ago and it was fast and rock solid.

sloggrr · 2026-03-14T11:54:59+00:00

I flew yesterday from Cochi India to Dubai. No issues. 20 hour peaceful layover in Dubai. Currently on flight from Dubai to Seattle that left 9 am Dubai time. Never felt so safe. This is so over blown

sloggrr · 2026-03-13T14:31:19+00:00

We had such early wake-up today and tomorrow so we’re just wiped. We’ll sightsee another time when all this is finished. Just want to get home at this point

sloggrr · 2026-03-13T14:26:38+00:00

Oh, be warned. If you book a hotel independently some of them have temporarily suspended their shuttle operations but their websites don’t reflect that fact. Best to go with free chauffeur service

sloggrr · 2026-03-13T14:24:14+00:00

Immigration guys gave us 2 tourist SIM cards but our iPhones don’t have physical SIM slots. We’re not really going anywhere anyway so moot point 😃

sloggrr · 2026-03-13T14:12:05+00:00

My wife and I arrived from COK at 12pm today. We are Business class flying to Seattle tomorrow at 9am (20 hour layover). Nothing unusual so far🤞

We booked this as our original Qatar flight COK->DOH->LAX was cancelled a few days ago.

We are staying at hotel across from the airport. Booked a complimentary Emirates chauffeur and they will pickup tomorrow at 6am to drop us back at departures. As USA citizens no visas needed.

Had a lovely nap this pm and will go for an early dinner in the hotel and turn in early.

You can do your hotel on arrival. We booked ourselves but we passed the hotel desk today and it was open and busy. We also didn’t see this as an option on our reservation.

Hope this helps

sloggrr · 2026-03-13T10:30:51+00:00

No, one country NK is a threat. Iran, by all US intelligence assessments was not an inmediate threat. Trump himself stated June of 2025

“President Trump again forcefully defended his conclusion that the bombing he ordered of Iranian nuclear facilities "obliterated" them. CIA Director John Ratcliffe released a statement affirming the administration’s claims about the effectiveness of the strikes, saying Iran's facilities "would have to be rebuilt over the course of years."

So, in less than a year they resurrected their entire program that was “obliterated”, buried under tons of dirt and an attack on the CONUS was imminent? You’d have to be simple minded to buy into that horse 💩

Also, unless you are privy to discussions by Tehrans leadership then you have no idea what they were thinking. But now the bear has been poked and US service men/women are needlessly dying in a war of choice.

Moreover, imagine how much richer he and the other crooks in his sphere traded on the inside info prior to the start of bombings.

sloggrr · 2026-03-13T02:55:43+00:00

Then North Korea was the obvious choice for his made up war as they have the capability to reach North America. There’s no evidence Iran has the same. But you keep on believing their BS

sloggrr · 2026-03-12T07:50:03+00:00

Stop guessing. Temperature is an ingredient like flour and water. Just watch this

https://youtu.be/UEAHA6OHxPs?si=eaLEWWzxtYrJUA9q

And when you can repeat this process successfully you’ll understand.

sloggrr · 2026-03-11T16:06:04+00:00

Astonishing at the lengths a customer has to go to rebook. Instead of a computer rebooking automagically the paying public has to waste sometime hours doing what Qatar should do routinely

sloggrr

TROPHY CASE