Sourdough Bread Baking for Beginners (Step-by-Step)

Sourdough Bread Baking for Beginners (Step-by-Step)

Millys Best

Table of Contents

  1. Why bake your own bread?
  2. The two beginner paths (traditional vs. shortcut)
  3. Gear you actually need
  4. The science (super quick)
  5. Step-by-step: Your first loaf with Millys
  6. FAQs for beginners
  7. Ready to start?

 


1) Why Bake Your Own Bread?

Store loaves are designed for shelf life, not for your health. Hard, but often true. Home baking means:

  • Short ingredients list (you know what’s in it)
  • Better taste & aroma (fresh fermentation)
  • Gentler on many guts (slow fermentation can reduce FODMAPs/phytic acid)
  • Satisfying ritual (hands-on, therapeutic)


2) The Two Beginner Paths

A) Traditional sourdough (from scratch)
Gorgeous—but high-maintenance for beginners: you’ll build and feed a starter for ~5–7 days, learn timing, stretch-and-folds, temperature control, and more. Making a loaf takes a full day with a LOT of hands on. 

     vs.   

 

B) Real-deal sourdough, beginner-friendly (with Millys)
Skip the starter. Millys uses slow-fermented German sourdough and a carefully balanced flour blend. You keep the craft, lose the chaos. The time saving way which makes it soooo easy.

Why Millys?

  • No starter pet to feed
  • Only add water
  • 4 steps
  • Time saving and for busy people
  • knead (10 min)  + rest (2-18h, up to your  preference)+ shape (10 sec) + bake (1h)
  • Consistent rise and crust in standard home ovens
  • Perfect for “bake tonight or tomorrow” schedules (room-temp rest or cold proof)

3) Gear You Actually Need

  • Large bowl (or lidded container)
  • Digital scale (most beginner mistakes = wrong quantities)
  • Bench scraper (optional but helpful)
  • Dutch oven or optional two baking trays + oven save bowl (e.g. ceramic, metal)
  • Parchment & sharp knife/lame for scoring


... actually stuff you have at home anyway

4) The Science (Super Quick)

  • Hydration: Use cool and exact amount of water for 70% hydration
  • Gluten: Develops with kneading + resting
  • Fermentation: Sourdough + yeast + bacteria produce gas and flavor
  • Proofing: Either go for 2h on the counter or 3-18h in the fridge. 

Millys is designed to be tolerant. Bake same or next day - whatever is best for you

5) Step-by-Step: Your First Loaf with Millys

Each pack already includes: premium European artisan flour blend (Germany), natural slow-fermented sourdough, a bit of yeast, salt. You add water—done.

Base Method (quick same-day)

  1. Knead
    Empty 1 Millys pack into a bowl. Add 350 ml (1.5 cups) cool water. Knead by hand or machine for ~ 10 min
  2. Rest
    Cover and rest 2 hours at room temp (21–24 °C). Optional: 1 stretch & fold during rest.
  3. Shape
    Shape to round, smooth form. Preheat oven at 230 °C / 450 °F for 30–40 min.
  4. Bake 
    Score in deeply, bake 20 min at 230 °C / 450 °F then reduce to 410°F and bake another 30 min.

 

Flavor-Boost Method (cold proof)

After the knead step, cover and refrigerate 3–18 h. Then shape and bake as above. Colder, longer rests = more fermentation, which is better for the gut and develops a better aroma

 

 

The good part

No matter how busy you are, you can ALWAYS make your bread.

15 min in the morning - go to work - bake in the evening. 

Tired after work? No worries, let dough rest longer and bake next day in the morning.

 

Millys is designed to fit in your busy lifestyle 

6) Beginner FAQs

Do I need a mixer?
No. Kneading by hand is enough. (But a kneading machine or hand mixer makes your life easier and eliminates potential troubles)

Is Millys “real sourdough”?
Yes—made with slow-fermented sourdough for flavor and digestibility, without you maintaining a live starter.

How long does the dough keep in the fridge?
Generally up to 18 hours. We don´t recommend longer to ensure the gluten structure is stays strong enough to make a fluffy bread. 

Can I bake on a sheet pan?
Yes. Use strong initial heat + steam for oven spring.

How do I store the loaf?
Room temp, cut-side covered, or in paper bag. For longer storage, slice + freeze; reheat from frozen.

8) Ready to Start?

If you’ve ever thought “Sourdough seems complicated”, Millys is your shortcut to artisan results without the starter drama.

✅ Beginner-approved 

✅ Add-water-and-bake simple 

✅ Gut-friendly slow fermentation


→ Shop Millys and join the home-baking movement.

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