How to Make Sourdough Bread at Home Step-by-Step

You may have seen sourdough loaves with burnished, elaborately scored crusts and roomy, holey innards on social media and questioned your ability to bake this style of bread. The answer is absolutely yes; you can. The process summarized here will guide you through all the essential stages and fundamental ideas a beginner sourdough baker needs to successfully make naturally leavened bread at home. Two to three days are required (though only the second requires significant tending; you can start on Friday to get loaves on Sunday). Some basic supplies must be purchased, and a starter must be made. Your initial bread won’t be flawless, and that’s okay. But it’s the beginning of a profoundly satisfying journey for individuals committed to mastering an age-old craft.