When it comes to food, everyone's tastes and expectations are different. Some individuals like a loaf of sourdough that is more sour, and others prefer a loaf that is less sour. We have one of each types of people in our house. Our starter isn’t very sour, Darrold’s preference, so we have figured out some ways to make it more sour, Marty’s preference.
The baker has some control over the level of sourness. It's true! There are certain things you can do to make your loaf of bread more sour. Here are are 6 things to try if you prefer your sourdough bread to be more sour:
Longer fermentation
When it comes time to proof your dough, the longer you proof, the more sour the dough will be. As your dough proofs, the good bacteria eats up sugars and starches in the flour. This decreases the sweet undertone and creates a more sour undertone. The longer you ferment, the more starches and sugars the bacteria eats, and the more sour your bread will be.
Some people let the bread proof in the fridge for up to 48 hours! (or longer if you’re absent minded like we are. We have been known to forget a loaf in the fridge for 5-6 days. The bread won’t have as much loft but it will definitely be sour).
Try adding whole grains
Like our Fine or Coarse Rye Flour or Heritage Whole Wheat Flour - whole grains contain complex carbohydrates. These help the acetic acid-producing bacteria gobble up more sugars which produces a more sour loaf.
Doughs using more whole grains will not have the same loft as those using White or Bread Blend. The tradeoff is more well-developed flavor, and more nutrition. If you prefer a loftier loaf, play with the ratios of White to whole grain flours. It’s kind of fun to see how they differ at different percentages. You’ll land on your preferred blend - or it may be all whole grain.
Feed your starter less often
The longer you go in between feedings, the more acetic acid your starter will develop. This acid creates a more sour flavor.
Stir in any hooch
If you wait long enough between feedings, a gray or black “water” will develop on top of your starter. The liquid is called hootch. It is the alcohol given off as the wild yeasts ferment. That hooch is packed full of sour flavor so don't pour it off, just stir it in.
Add starter to recipe after it's reached its peak
The flavor of a sourdough starter is most mild when it has reached its peak. Add it to your recipe after it has reached this peak for a more flavorful loaf.
More stretch and folds
Typically, people do about 3-5 stretch and folds in the process of making a loaf of sourdough bread. If you do 2-4 more of them, it helps produce a more sour dough.
Try one or all of these tricks to make your sourdough bread more sour.
FAQs
Longer fermentation
As your dough proofs, the good bacteria eats up sugars and starches in the flour. This decreases the sweet undertone and creates a more sour undertone. The longer you ferment, the more starches and sugars the bacteria eats, and the more sour your bread will be.
How to make bread more sour? ›
Longer fermentation
As your dough proofs, the good bacteria eats up sugars and starches in the flour. This decreases the sweet undertone and creates a more sour undertone. The longer you ferment, the more starches and sugars the bacteria eats, and the more sour your bread will be.
What makes bread dough sour? ›
Sourdough bread's signature taste comes from friendly bacteria and yeast, which produce flavorful lactic and acetic acids in rising bread dough.
Why is sour bread better? ›
Sourdough relies on a mix of wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria, rather than baker's yeast, to leaven the dough. It's richer in nutrients, less likely to spike your blood sugar, contains lower amounts of gluten, and is generally easier to digest than bread made with baker's yeast.
Which will give the bread its famous texture and sour flavor? ›
The yeast and bacteria in the sourdough starter break down the carbohydrates in dough which produces a carbon dioxide gas that causes the bread to naturally rise. This also gives sourdough bread its distinctive tangy, sour flavor and deliciously chewy texture.
Does vinegar make sourdough more sour? ›
Acetic acid, or vinegar, is the acid that gives sourdough much of its tang. Giving acetic acid-producing organisms optimal conditions to thrive and multiply will produce a more tangy finished product.
How to make sourdough really sour? ›
Small Amounts of Sourdough Starter - using less sourdough starter in your dough produces a more sour flavor because it takes much longer for the dough to rise, giving the bacteria more time to produce the natural acids that give sourdough its distinct flavor.
Is it OK to eat sour bread? ›
The bottom line. Sourdough bread's lower glycemic index, higher nutrient profile, and easier digestibility make it a better option compared to commercial white bread for many people. However, depending on your health goals and any health conditions you have, other bread varieties may be an even better option.
What kind of bread is sour? ›
Unlike other wheat or white breads, which often rely on baker's yeast to rise, sourdough breads use a “starter” — a living colony of bacteria and wild yeast that causes the bread's dough to rise through fermentation.
Can you eat too much sourdough? ›
Like most things, if you eat too much sourdough bread it can make you very gassy. However, in comparison to yeast leavened breads and store bought white breads, sourdough bread should actually help you to fart less!
The signature sourdough flavor comes from a combination of lactic and acetic acids, created as the dough rises and ferments. Refrigerating the dough encourages the production of more acetic acid, which is the tangier of the two. Thus, this bread with its refrigerated starter has the ideal balance of sour flavor.
Why is everyone making sourdough bread in 2024? ›
The continued popularity of homemade sourdough bread is rooted in a confluence of factors which has gained momentum as more people gravitate towards more nutrient-dense foods made from scratch and many families adopt a homesteading lifestyle.
What element of baking gives bread the most flavor? ›
The volatile esters, aldehydes and secondary alcohols are the most significant flavor compounds produced during the dough fermentation by bakers yeast, are of particular interest in bread, because they contribute pleasant fruity and buttery flavor notes.
Why is my sourdough bread not very sour? ›
Water temperature: The higher the temperature of fully kneaded dough, the more likely your resulting bread will be more (rather than less) sour. The principal way bakers can influence the temperature of fully kneaded dough is through the temperature of the water used to mix the dough.
What can I add to bread to make it taste better? ›
Butter and especially stronger oils, such as walnut, can also add flavor to bread. Dry milk powder adds flavor to bread and can soften its texture, as in the case of this basic white sourdough. Add it to dough with the flour.
How much apple cider vinegar to add to sourdough? ›
For a sourdough starter substitute, use a combination of 1/2 cup chilled plain “active culture” yogurt and 2 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar. The substitute will yield a less sour sourdough, but the bread will still be delicious.
