Sourdough Workshop Outline

Workshop Overview

Title: Mastering Sourdough: From Starter to Loaf

Duration: 2 Hours

Level: Beginner

Objective: To equip participants with the knowledge and skills to create their own sourdough starter, maintain it, and bake delicious sourdough bread.

Agenda

Session 1: Introduction to Sourdough

• Welcome and Introduction
• Overview of the workshop objectives
• Understanding Sourdough
• History and benefits of sourdough
• The science behind sourdough fermentation
• Sourdough vs. commercial yeast

Session 2: Creating and Maintaining a Sourdough Starter

• Ingredients and Tools
• Flour types and their impact on fermentation
• Water: importance of quality and temperature
• Tools: bowls, scales, jars, etc.
• Making and maintaining a Sourdough Starter
• Demonstration: creating a new starter from scratch
• Daily feeding and maintenance routine

Materials Needed:

• Flour (whole grain and white)
• Water
• Jars or containers for starter
• Digital scales
• Mixing tools

Session 3: Sourdough Bread Basics

• Ingredients and Techniques
• Understanding flour and hydration levels
• The role of salt in sourdough
• Autolyse and Mixing
• Demonstration: autolyse and mixing techniques
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• Fermentation & Stretching
• Demonstration: folding and stretching techniques
• Hands-on: participants practice stretch and fold technique
• The Bulk Rise
• Demonstration: Preparing dough for the Bulk Rise
• Shaping Techniques
• Demonstration: various shaping methods (boule, batard)
• Hands-on: participants shape their dough
• Q&A and Discussion

Materials Needed:

• Mixing bowls
• Bench scrapers
• Proofing baskets or bowls
• Bulk rise container

Session 4: Baking and Finishing

• Proofing and Scoring
• Demonstration: proofing techniques and tips
• Baking Techniques
• Oven setup: steam, temperature, and timing
• Demonstration: scoring and baking the bread
• Tasting and Feedback
• Participants taste the baked bread
• Discussion on flavors, textures, and areas for improvement
• Troubleshooting and Tips
• Common issues and how to solve them

Materials Needed:

• Ovens
• Lame or sharp blades for scoring
• Baking pans & camp ovens