Category
Troubleshooting
If something went wrong, start here. Each article diagnoses one specific failure mode with the symptom, the cause, and a fix.
All articles in Troubleshooting
18 posts
5 Sourdough Baking Mistakes and How to Fix Them in Real Time
Caught a problem mid-bake? Here's how to course-correct on five common sourdough mistakes before they ruin the loaf.
Master Baker John Park · 7 min read
The Complete Sourdough Troubleshooting Checklist
Bread didn't turn out? Run through this checklist to find the cause. Covers every common sourdough failure.
Master Baker John Park · 5 min read
Why Your Sourdough Came Out Flat (And the Fix)
A flat, pancake-like sourdough has a small set of common causes. Here's how to diagnose and prevent each.
Master Baker John Park · 4 min read
Why Your Sourdough Crust Is Pale (And How to Get Color)
A pale, blonde crust on sourdough means something is off. Six causes and the fixes for each.
Pierre Lambert · 4 min read
Why Your Sourdough Has a Burnt Bottom (And How to Fix It)
Pulling out a great-looking loaf with a black, charred bottom? Five common causes and the specific fixes for each.
Carlos Vega · 4 min read
My Sourdough Dough Is Too Sticky: Fix and Prevention
Sticky dough is one of the most common beginner complaints. Here are the real causes and the fixes that work.
Maya Patel · 4 min read
When to Throw Out a Sourdough Loaf (And When to Bake Anyway)
An overproofed dough may still be salvageable. A moldy starter is not. A guide to knowing what's recoverable.
Master Baker John Park · 4 min read
How to Revive a Sourdough Starter After Months in the Fridge
If your starter has been neglected for weeks or months, it can almost always be brought back. Here's the revival routine that works.
Lisa Hartwell · 3 min read
Why Your Sourdough Tastes Bland (And How to Add More Flavor)
Six reasons your sourdough tastes flat, and the specific changes that bring out real flavor.
Diana Khoury · 3 min read
Diagnosing Your Bread by the Crumb
Cut a slice. Look at the holes. Each pattern tells a different story about what happened in your bake.
Master Baker John Park · 3 min read
Troubleshooting Dense Sourdough: Five Common Mistakes
Why your loaves come out heavy and tight — and the precise adjustments that fix each cause.
Master Baker John Park · 2 min read
What Starter Color and Smell Tell You
A field guide to reading your starter's appearance — what's normal, what's a warning, and what's a problem.
Rachel Goldman · 3 min read
Troubleshooting Your First Sourdough Bake
Specific problems beginners hit, and exactly what to fix next time.
Master Baker John Park · 4 min read
Troubleshooting Gummy Crumb
Why your bread feels wet inside, and how to bake, proof, and structure your way out of it.
Master Baker John Park · 2 min read
Troubleshooting: When Sourdough Won't Rise
Twelve specific reasons your dough isn't growing — and how to diagnose which one is yours.
Diana Khoury · 2 min read
Troubleshooting Overproofed Dough
It's not always lost. How to recognize overproofing and what to do — sometimes you can still bake it.
Pete Kowalski · 2 min read
Troubleshooting Flat Sourdough Loaves
Pancake bread is a structural failure — and structure has six possible causes. Here's how to find yours.
Victor Brand · 2 min read
Sourdough Starter Troubleshooting
Slow growth, off smells, hooch, mold — what's normal, what's not, and how to fix everything fixable.
Rachel Goldman · 2 min read