Recipe
Open-crumb practice loaf
A higher-hydration practice loaf for learning dough feel without turning every bake into chaos.
Best useChoose this when basic fermentation signals already make sense and you want to practice wetter dough judgment.
You will practiceStrength building, tension under looser conditions, and how hydration changes what bulk looks like.
Hold offDo not use this loaf as a shortcut around weak starter behavior or confused bulk timing.
High hydration changes the conversation
This loaf teaches handling and support, but it also makes weak fermentation easier to misread as style.
Open crumb is not the first goal
The better target is a loaf that still holds structure while the dough stays looser and more expressive.
Bulk judgment becomes more sensitive
A wet dough can look promising before it is actually ready, so timing discipline matters even more.
Use this as a practice loaf
When it fails, the goal is to learn which signal misled you — not to add more flour or folds immediately.
Process outline
- Use only after stable starter behaviorThis dough is not the place to test a weak or confusing culture.
- Expect looser handlingThe purpose of this loaf is to teach feel, structure, and tension under wetter conditions.
- Judge bulk carefullyUse the planner and do not wait blindly for a dramatic visual rise.
Typical timing map
- Feed starter: morning
- Mix: when starter peaks
- Bulk: 4–5 hours with 3–4 folds
- Shape + proof: 2–3 hours or overnight cold
- Bake: 45 minutes
What to watch
- Not a first loafThis recipe is for bakers who already know what a sane fermentation path looks like.
- Hydration is not the whole storyWeak structure can still come from starter or timing rather than water alone.
- Use troubleshooting if it failsDo not respond by throwing more water or more folds at the next attempt.
Common failure watch-points
- Spread-out loaf → underfermented or weak tension
- Dense despite high hydration → starter was weak or bulk too short
- Gummy crumb → baked too early
When not to use this recipe
- Starter is inconsistent → go back to beginner loaf
- Main need is weekday fit → use cold-proof loaf
- Still learning basic bulk signals → stay with 68% loaf