Baking
Let’s make some dough!
Slash Your Loaf (Seam Side Down)
Slashing your loaf is an important step. The 3 main reasons are to:
1. Induce a weak fault in the surface where the loaf opens up (oven spring).
2. Give a decorative flourish, consider it your signature on your art.
3. Much less important is that it can be used as a label indicating different styles, or sizes of bread.
(The normal top of a loaf is the stretched side; the bottom is the side with the seams. ) Hold your razor or lame at about 45° relative to the top surface of the loaf and pull quickly (to simply insert the blade and pull it along will just cause the dough in front of the blade to bunch up and the dough behind the blade to tear).
When the lame is inserted straight into the dough, both sides will have an equal tendency to expand. When the lame is inserted at an angle (especially when undercutting towards the center of an arc), you give your loaf its best chance to open dramatically and form a prominent ear.
Cut about ¼ to ½ inch deep. For boules, a single curved slash works well; for batards or baguettes, try multiple diagonal slashes. Without a slash, the loaf is constricted and may burst unpredictably.
Sometimes (especially when the dough is more-fermented and is really delicate) you may be tempted not to score your loaf. At those times the dough is difficult to work with and will often collapse, but slash on. It will recover in the oven. I have been disappointed with more-fermented dough, but never with taking the time to slash.
Or Skip the Slash: Bake Seam Side Up
If you don't have a lame, or you want an organic, rustic-looking loaf, bake with the seam side up and skip slashing. The seams — where the dough was tucked and sealed — are natural fault lines, and they tend to open on their own in the oven. Every loaf opens its own way, so each one is unique and organic-looking. It takes one less step, and no tools.
Slash or Seam Up? There’s No Best Way
Slash, seam side down: You control where the loaf opens, get the best chance at a big ear and maximum oven spring, can sign your loaf, and get a repeatable look.
Seam side up, no slash: No tools, one less step, and every loaf opens its own way. A little-known method that’s rarely taught.
Steam or No Steam? Choose Your Crust
When baking sourdough, your next choice is to bake:
With Steam: Glossy, blistered, crispy crust and maximum oven spring.
Without Steam: Matte, rustic crust with a more classic, old-world look.
Steam keeps the dough’s surface soft longer, allowing for better oven spring (that final burst of rise in the oven). But if you prefer an easier method or a more rustic crust, skip the steam—your bread will still taste amazing.
Since most home ovens don’t have steam injection, you can easily mimic it:
Each method has its advantages — there’s no best way:
Dutch oven: Traps the loaf’s own steam, with no water to handle. Downsides: it’s heavy, extra equipment, and slower to preheat, and it takes up a lot of oven room — an oven that bakes 12 loaves on sheets may fit only 2 Dutch ovens.
Cast iron + water (evaporating dish): Preheat a small pan on the bottom rack (a mini cast-iron skillet works well) and pour in hot water when you load the bread. The steam fills the whole oven, so it works for any shape and many loaves at once.
Bowl-over: Works with any sheet or stone, no Dutch oven needed.
No steam: The simplest, with a matte, rustic crust.
🥘 Dutch Oven Method
Place your loaf inside a preheated Dutch oven and cover with the lid.
Optionally, spritz the inside with water before you close the lid or toss in an ice cube to boost steam.
Bake covered for the first half, then remove the lid.
🥣 Bowl-Over Method
Place your loaf on a baking sheet, steel, or pizza stone.
Cover it with a large oven-safe metal or glass bowl.
⚠️ Never spray a hot glass bowl—thermal shock may cause it to crack.
🔥 Cast Iron + Water Method (My Go-To)
Place a cast iron pan on the bottom rack and preheat the oven.
Once the bread is loaded, pour 2-3 oz (75 ml) of hot water into the pan.
Quickly close the oven door to trap the burst of steam.
Bake at 500°F for 25-35 minutes (with or without steam).
Bake the first half (16-18 minutes) remove the lid or bowl (if using), rotate the loaf and bake for another 12-18 minutes.
Bake until the internal temperature reaches at least 185°F.
Continue baking until you love the color of your loaf.
Use a thermometer and your eyes.
Temperature 185°F:
Visual Cues: at 185°F your loaf may still be pale. continue baking until you get the color that you prefer
If you prefer a darker, more flavorful crust, confidently bake longer — a mahogany crust is perfectly fine.
Think of it like roasting a marshmallow or toasting bread: Some prefer toast just heated while it is pale/blond, some want it golden, and others like it deeply caramelized for maximum flavor. Your sourdough crust works the same way — you can safely continue baking to achieve the depth of color and flavor that suits your taste.
💡 Pro Tip: For extra color and crunch, remove all steam sources and crack the oven door slightly during the last few minutes to help moisture escape.
Footnote:
145°F: Pathogens and enzymes fully denatured.
165°F: Starches fully gelatinized.
185°F+: Proteins fully coagulated — this is your minimum temperature target.
Your loaf is out of the oven — but not ready yet.
🧊 Cooling: Finish the Bake
Hot from the oven, the inside (the crumb) is gelatinized (gummy). Cutting too early will collapse the structure.
Starch retrogradation—the swollen, softened starch re-bonding into a firmer, crystal-like structure—begins as the bread cools below 140°F (60°C). This process is essential for setting the crumb's structure. Slicing too early stresses/collapses the structure, resulting in a dense, sticky interior.
Most bakers/authors recommend completely cooling your loaf, but if you do that you miss out on hot from the oven bread. Better advice is to let it cool below 140°F.
cool on a cooling rack; if not steam from the hot loaf will condense on the counter/cooling surface which will make the crust soggy.
Realistic: If you can’t wait, just know the tradeoff: slicing early sacrifices some texture and structure.
If you're baking to impress, let it cool. 20 minutes before service, pop the loaf into a 350°F oven to reheat and crisp up the crust.
Slash your loaf to guide the expansion.
Choose your crust: Steamy and shiny or dry and rustic.
Bake at 500°F for 25-35 minutes, rotating/inspecting halfway.
Check for doneness: Internal temp of 185°F+, and your preferred color.
Cool on a wire rack for best texture.
Until next time, let’s give thanks for our daily bread…
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