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Sourdough Sandwich Bread Recipe and Baking Tips

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: May 6, 2022 • 3 min read

Whether you’re baking sourdough for the first time or are an experienced bread maker, making sourdough sandwich bread yields hearty loaves with many uses. Follow this sourdough bread recipe to make a tangy, chewy sandwich loaf.

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What Is Sourdough Sandwich Bread?

Sourdough sandwich bread is a variation of sourdough bread, which uses fermented sourdough starter rather than commercial yeast for its rise. The fermented sourdough starter contains bacteria and acids, adding a layer of tanginess to this twist on classic white bread. Pop sliced sourdough sandwich bread into the toaster to make an open-faced sandwich, or use it to craft grilled cheese sandwiches, French toast, and more.

5 Tips for Baking Sourdough Sandwich Bread

Whether you have experience with sourdough recipes or are baking bread for the first time, you’ll be able to execute this recipe. Follow these tips for baking sourdough to make the best loaf of bread possible.

  1. 1. Make sure the starter is active and bubbly. It’s important to use an extremely active starter when making any loaf of sourdough bread. If you’re working with a refrigerated starter, plan to feed it about three times before baking. To test your starter’s readiness, drop a spoonful of it into a cup of room-temperature water: If it floats, it’s ready.
  2. 2. Use glass or ceramic bowls and jars. Always use glass or ceramic containers when making sourdough bread. The acidity from the dough can interact with metal or plastic, negatively impacting the taste and texture.
  3. 3. Be flexible with timing. The amount of time required for each round of proofing—allowing the dough to rise—will vary depending on your home’s temperature and humidity levels. While warm, humid environments will cause loaves to rise faster, colder, drier climates will require more time to rise and ferment.
  4. 4. Be gentle with your dough. Whether you’re using your hands or the dough hook of a stand mixer to knead your dough lightly, try to handle it as little as possible, which will help to preserve its air bubbles, yielding a light and airy crumb.
  5. 5. Store properly. Baked sourdough sandwich bread will keep well in an airtight container on the countertop for up to 3 days. For long-term storage, allow the bread to come to room temperature on a cooling rack, wrap it in a tight layer of plastic wrap followed by a layer of foil, and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Homemade Sourdough Sandwich Bread Recipe

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makes

1 loaf

prep time

20 min

total time

1 hr 5 min

cook time

45 min

Ingredients

Note: The total time does not include 14 hours and 15 minutes of inactive time.

  1. 1

    Make the levain. In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of flour, the active sourdough starter, and a ½ cup of warm water and stir to incorporate. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set it in a warm spot to rest overnight—at least 8 hours—until it doubles in size.

  2. 2

    The next day, in a large bowl, mix together the remaining 3⅓ cups of flour, butter, sugar, and salt using a wooden spoon or clean hands.

  3. 3

    Add the levain and the remaining ½ cup of warm water to the other dough ingredients and combine them. Use a wet hand to reach under the dough ingredients, pull them up from the bottom, and then fold the dough over onto itself to combine. This technique will give your sourdough loaf an airier texture than kneading the dough with a mixer or by hand. Rotate the bowl in 4 quarter turns, folding after each turn. Repeat this process numerous times until a soft, supple dough forms. Place the dough seam-side down in your bowl.

  4. 4

    Cover the dough bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place until it doubles in size, about 3–4 hours.

  5. 5

    Turn the dough onto a floured work surface and shape it into an 8-inch long log.

  6. 6

    Transfer the dough to a lightly greased 9x5-inch loaf pan. Cover it with plastic wrap and let it rest in the pan for 2 hours.

  7. 7

    When the second rise is almost complete, preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

  8. 8

    Using a knife, make several shallow slashes into the top of the dough right before placing it in the oven.

  9. 9

    Place the bread pan on the center rack of the preheated oven and bake until the crust is firm and golden brown, about 40–45 minutes.

  10. 10

    Remove the sourdough loaf from the oven and let it rest in the pan for 15 minutes before removing and transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

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