Recipes & Guides

Step-by-step sourdough recipes, starter guides, and the baking science behind every loaf.

Why Your Sourdough Crust Is Too Thick (and How to Fix It)
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Why Your Sourdough Crust Is Too Thick (and How to Fix It)

A thick, jaw-breaking crust ruins an otherwise perfect loaf. Here are the most common causes and exactly what to change in your process.

Team Sourdough Joe · May 12, 2026

Sourdough in Hot Weather: Summer Baking Tips
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Sourdough in Hot Weather: Summer Baking Tips

When your kitchen hits 85°F, sourdough goes into overdrive. Here is how to slow things down and still bake great bread when the temperature climbs.

Team Sourdough Joe · May 8, 2026

Why Your Sourdough Is Flat: The Complete Troubleshooting Guide
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Why Your Sourdough Is Flat: The Complete Troubleshooting Guide

Flat sourdough is the most common complaint among home bakers. This guide covers every possible cause, from starter health to oven setup, with specific fixes for each one.

Team Sourdough Joe · April 21, 2026

Reading Your Crumb: What the Inside of Your Bread Is Telling You
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Reading Your Crumb: What the Inside of Your Bread Is Telling You

Your bread's crumb is a diagnostic report on every decision you made during the bake. Learn to read it and you will know exactly what to adjust next time.

Team Sourdough Joe · April 14, 2026

7 Tips for Better Oven Spring in Sourdough Bread
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7 Tips for Better Oven Spring in Sourdough Bread

Oven spring is the dramatic rise your bread gets in the first minutes of baking. If yours is underwhelming, these seven adjustments can make a significant difference.

Team Sourdough Joe · April 10, 2026

Sticky Dough Everywhere: Understanding and Mastering Hydration
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Sticky Dough Everywhere: Understanding and Mastering Hydration

Your dough is sticking to everything, your hands, the counter, your self-esteem. Here’s why high hydration dough behaves the way it does and how to work with it instead of fighting it.

Team Sourdough Joe · January 22, 2026

Sourdough Too Sour? How to Control the Flavor
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Sourdough Too Sour? How to Control the Flavor

Your bread is coming out way too tangy and the family is making faces at the dinner table. Here’s the science behind sourness in sourdough and exactly how to dial it up or down.

Team Sourdough Joe · January 17, 2026

Crumb Too Dense: Causes and Tips for an Open Crumb Structure
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Crumb Too Dense: Causes and Tips for an Open Crumb Structure

If your sourdough crumb looks more like a doorstop than the airy, hole-filled slices you see everywhere, this guide breaks down exactly what causes density and how to open things up.

Team Sourdough Joe · January 13, 2026

Sourdough Bread Didn’t Rise? 5 Reasons and What to Change
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Sourdough Bread Didn’t Rise? 5 Reasons and What to Change

Flat sourdough loaf staring back at you? Before you toss it, let’s figure out exactly what went wrong. Here are the five most common reasons your bread didn’t rise and how to fix each one.

Team Sourdough Joe · January 10, 2026

Why Is My Sourdough Flat? 7 Common Causes and Fixes
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Why Is My Sourdough Flat? 7 Common Causes and Fixes

Flat sourdough loaves are frustrating but fixable. Learn the 7 most common reasons your bread isn't rising and exactly how to fix each one.

Team Sourdough Joe · November 26, 2025