Recipes & Guides
Step-by-step sourdough recipes, starter guides, and the baking science behind every loaf.
What Your Sourdough Crumb Is Trying to Tell You
That cross-section of your loaf is a progress report. Dense, gummy, tunneling, or uneven — each crumb pattern points to a specific fix. Here is how to decode yours.
Team Sourdough Joe · September 15, 2026
How to Shape a Tight Sourdough Boule (and Stop Flat Loaves)
Shaping is the difference between a tall, proud loaf and a flat frisbee. Here is the hands-on technique, step by step.
Team Sourdough Joe · September 4, 2026
Sourdough Starter Won't Rise: Troubleshooting Guide
Your sourdough starter is flat and lifeless? Do not panic. Here are the most common reasons starters refuse to rise and exactly how to fix each one.
Team Sourdough Joe · August 11, 2026
How to Make Sourdough Bread Less Sour
Love sourdough but want a milder flavor? These simple adjustments to your process will give you a sweeter, less tangy loaf without sacrificing texture.
Team Sourdough Joe · July 31, 2026
Why Your Sourdough Dough Is Too Sticky to Handle (and What to Actually Do About It)
Sticky dough isn't always a problem — but when it's unworkable, you need real solutions. Here's how to tell the difference between normal tacky dough and a hydration disaster, plus six fixes that actually work.
Team Sourdough Joe · July 26, 2026
Why Is My Sourdough Gummy Inside? Every Fix I Know
You nailed the crust, the shape looks great, you cut it open and the inside is wet, sticky, and gummy. Here is every reason that happens and what to do about each one.
Team Sourdough Joe · July 12, 2026
Why Your Sourdough Smells Like Nail Polish Remover
That sharp, acetone-like smell from your starter is alarming but not dangerous. Here is what causes it and exactly how to fix it.
Team Sourdough Joe · July 10, 2026
How to Make Sourdough Starter More Active
Is your starter sluggish, slow to rise, or barely doubling? Here are proven strategies to boost its activity and get it reliably peaking on schedule.
Team Sourdough Joe · June 30, 2026
Why Your Sourdough Keeps Spreading Flat (And How to Fix Your Shaping)
That pancake-shaped loaf isn't a fermentation problem. It's a shaping problem. Here are the techniques that finally gave me tall, round loaves with real oven spring.
Team Sourdough Joe · June 19, 2026
High-Altitude Sourdough Baking Adjustments
Baking above 3,000 feet? Your sourdough behaves differently up there. Here is a complete guide to adjusting every variable for altitude.
Team Sourdough Joe · June 12, 2026