The Sourdough Framework

The Sourdough Framework is an open, experiment-driven handbook that explains sourdough baking as a system rather than a set of isolated recipes. It breaks breadmaking into measurable variables—starter strength, flour characteristics, hydration, temperature, salt, timing—and shows how each affects dough behavior and flavor. The text leans on baker’s percentages and dough temperature targets to help you plan, troubleshoot, and reproduce results across seasons and kitchens. You’ll find step-by-step fermentation schedules, shaping and scoring guidance, and comparisons of techniques like slap-and-fold, stretch-and-fold, autolyse, and cold retard. A strong emphasis on diagnostics helps you read the dough (windowpane, poke test, gas retention) and fix common problems such as dense crumbs, weak gluten, or over-/under-proofing.