6 Smart Summer Sourdough Baking Tips to Keep Your Kitchen Cool

“Beat the heat with these summer baking tips! Learn how to create delicious treats without melting in the kitchen. ☀️? #SummerBaking #CoolKitchen”

1. At SKitchen, we understand that maintaining the perfect temperature is crucial when it comes to creating the perfect sourdough, especially during the scorching summer months. Bread dough, with its complex mix of enzymes, bacteria, and yeast, is highly responsive to temperature changes. To help you achieve baking success while keeping your cool in the kitchen, here are six tips to consider:
   1. Make it Cooler: Temperature plays a pivotal role in sourdough baking. Whether it’s hot or cold outside, the dough’s behavior varies accordingly. To adapt to these temperature fluctuations, consider finding a cooler room or a shaded spot where your dough can rest comfortably.
   2. Reduce the Amount of Sourdough Starter: When temperatures rise, the fermentation process can speed up. To slow it down, use less sourdough starter in your recipe. Fewer microorganisms mean a gentler fermentation, which is particularly helpful during summer.
   3. Decrease Starter Fermentation Time: Unlike the cooler months when you might feed your sourdough starter the night before, opt for a morning feeding during the summer. This way, your starter will be ready for use later in the day. Additionally, if you find your starter getting ahead of you, don’t hesitate to use your refrigerator to pause the fermentation process.
   4. Use Cold or Cooler Water: A straightforward way to reduce the dough’s temperature is to use cold or cooler water when mixing your sourdough. This can counteract the heat and maintain an ideal environment for your dough.
   5. Place Shaped Dough in the Fridge Sooner: Instead of allowing your shaped dough to rest on the bench, as you might in cooler weather, place it directly in the fridge. This prevents over-fermentation and gives you more control over your baking schedule.
   6. Embrace Your Fridge: Sometimes, life gets in the way, and your sourdough starter might be ready before you expected. Don’t fret—your refrigerator is your ally. Stash your starter in the fridge to slow down fermentation and gain extra time.

   With these smart summer sourdough baking tips, you can confidently navigate the challenges of warmer weather and keep your kitchen and your dough as cool as a cucumber. Happy baking, and enjoy your delicious, home-baked sourdough bread!

• Shop in Skitchen | Cast Iron Sourdough Pan