How do I shape my sourdough bread?

Join the sourdough shaping dance with our easy-to-follow tutorial. Shape your bread like a pro and enjoy the perfect loaf.

You'll need

Items needed to answer the question, How do I shape my sourdough bread. Items include: Flour Water Patience Love for Bread

Flour Enough to lightly flour the surface
Water A splash to wet your hands
Patience As much as it takes!
Love for Bread Unlimited

Take note
Handle with care: shaping sourdough bread can be addictive! Once you master this technique, you may find yourself shaping loaves everywhere you go. Don't be surprised if your friends start calling you 'the bread whisperer.'

1

Prep Your Dough

After your sourdough has finished its bulk fermentation, it's time to shape it. Gently transfer your dough onto a lightly floured surface.

2

Fold and Tuck

With lightly floured hands, gently stretch and fold the edges of your dough towards the center. Tuck them under to create tension. Imagine you're hugging your dough, but don't get too attached, we're still shaping here!

3

Ball It Up

Once your edges are nicely tucked, use your hands to shape the dough into a tight ball. Cup your hands around the dough and gently rotate it on the surface to create tension.

4

Final Shaping

Flip your dough over so that the smooth side is facing down. Now, imagine you're folding an envelope: fold the top third towards the center, then fold the bottom third up and over the top. Your dough should look like a neat little package.