Sourdough Tracker blog

Guides & comparisons

Honest comparisons, alternatives and how-tos from the Sourdough Tracker team.

Free Sourdough tools

• Baker's Percentage CalculatorEnter flour and other ingredient weights to get baker's percentages, totals and an optional rescaled recipe for your target dough weight.→
• Bulk Fermentation Time CalculatorEstimate a sourdough bulk fermentation window from dough temperature, starter percentage and starter activity. Use the result as a prompt to read the dough, not as a fixed finish time.→
• Sourdough Bread Internal Temperature GuideChoose a loaf style and flour composition, then enter the measured center temperature to see the relevant sourdough bread internal temperature range and an interpretation.→
• Sourdough Bread Timeline PlannerBuild a backwards-planned sourdough bread timeline from starter feeding through mixing, folds, bulk fermentation, shaping, proofing and baking.→
• Sourdough Fermentation ChartUse your dough temperature, starter percentage and dough size to build a practical sourdough fermentation chart with a range rather than false precision.→
• Sourdough Hydration CalculatorFind your true dough hydration, not just water divided by recipe flour. This calculator includes the flour and water already in your starter.→
• Sourdough Proofing ChartEstimate a room-temperature or cold-proof window from proofing temperature and starter percentage, then check the dough's rise, shape and bubbles.→
• Sourdough Starter Feeding Schedule PlannerBuild a dated sourdough starter feeding schedule with expected refreshes and a visual readiness window.→
• Sourdough Starter Feeding CalculatorWork out how much to feed sourdough starter for a chosen amount or your next bake. Get grams of starter, flour and water, plus discard.→
• Sourdough Starter Feeding Ratio CalculatorUse a feeding ratio and target hydration to calculate the grams of starter, flour and water to combine, plus total weight and discard.→
• Sourdough Starter Grams to Cups ConverterHow many grams is 1 cup of sourdough starter? Use this approximate converter for cups, grams, hydration, and the flour and water your starter contains.→
• Sourdough Starter Name GeneratorGenerate a shareable batch of sourdough starter names by vibe, flour type and starting letter. Re-roll or copy your favourites in one click.→
• Sourdough Starter Peak Time EstimatorEstimate when a mature sourdough starter may peak from its feeding ratio, ambient temperature and feeding time, then check the visual cues that matter more than the clock.→

• Is sourdough gluten free? What fermentation really changes

  Is sourdough gluten free? Wheat sourdough isn't, but long fermentation cuts fructans and some gluten peptides. What that means for celiac disease and IBS.

  Oct 10, 2026 →

• Is sourdough bread good for you? What the evidence shows

  Is sourdough bread good for you? Which fermentation claims hold up, how sourdough compares with white and whole wheat, and why most store loaves don't count.

  Oct 7, 2026 →

• What is a levain, and how is it different from a starter

  What is a levain, how it differs from your mother starter, and how to build one — ratios, hydration, ripeness timing, plus poolish and biga compared.

  Oct 4, 2026 →

• How to make sourdough more sour — and how to dial it back

  How to make sourdough more sour: which acid you're chasing, and how temperature, hydration, feeding ratio, and cold retard shift the balance.

  Oct 1, 2026 →

• How to store sourdough bread and keep the crust crisp

  How to store sourdough bread: cut-side down day one, paper or a bread box to day three, freezer past that, and why the fridge stales a loaf fastest.

  Sep 28, 2026 →

• How to bake sourdough without a Dutch oven: steam methods ranked

  How to bake sourdough without a Dutch oven: why steam matters, which covers work best, what size pot to buy, and how to fix pale or rock-hard crust.

  Sep 25, 2026 →

• How to shape sourdough into a boule or batard

  How to shape sourdough step by step: preshape, a 20-30 minute bench rest, then the boule drag-and-tuck or batard roll-and-seal, plus banneton fixes.

  Sep 22, 2026 →

• Sourdough scoring: blade angle, depth, and how to get an ear

  Sourdough scoring controls where your loaf opens. Blade angle, cut depth, dough temperature, and the patterns that actually produce an ear.

  Sep 19, 2026 →

• Why is my sourdough gummy? Underbaked, uncooled, or misfermented

  Why is my sourdough gummy? Three faults share one symptom. Use internal temperature, cooling time, and loaf shape to find which one is yours.

  Sep 16, 2026 →

• Sourdough starter mold vs. hooch: what to toss, what to feed

  Fuzzy growth or pink streaks mean sourdough starter mold and a full toss. Grey hooch, acetone, and vinegar smells mean a hungry, healthy culture.

  Sep 13, 2026 →

• Sourdough starter not rising? Work the causes in this order

  Sourdough starter not rising? Check temperature first, then flour, ratio, and jar — plus a three-day revival protocol that brings weak starters back.

  Sep 10, 2026 →

• Sourdough discard uses, storage, and when to refresh it

  Sourdough discard is unfed starter past peak — great in pancakes and crackers, unreliable in bread. Where it works, how long it keeps, how to make less.

  Sep 7, 2026 →

• How to store sourdough starter for a week or for years

  How to store sourdough starter on the counter, in the fridge, dried, or frozen — plus the wake-up feeds each method needs before you bake.

  Sep 4, 2026 →

• Stretch and fold sourdough: schedule, coil folds, when to stop

  Stretch and fold sourdough on a four-set schedule: what folding does to gluten, when to switch to coil folds, and the cues that say stop early.

  Sep 1, 2026 →

• Overproofed sourdough vs underproofed — signs and fixes

  Tell overproofed sourdough from underproofed by shape, ear, and crumb — plus how to salvage the dough you have and the one variable to change next bake.

  Aug 29, 2026 →

• How long to bake sourdough: times by loaf weight

  How long to bake sourdough: 20–25 minutes lid on, 20–25 lid off, the 205–210°F doneness check, three burnt-bottom fixes, and how long to cool before slicing.

  Aug 26, 2026 →

• Sourdough proofing chart: room temp and cold retard times

  A sourdough proofing chart with final proof times by kitchen and fridge temperature, 45 minutes to 36 hours, plus a poke test you can calibrate.

  Aug 23, 2026 →

• Bulk fermentation sourdough chart by dough temperature

  A bulk fermentation sourdough chart from 68°F to 82°F with times by inoculation, plus percentage-rise targets and the four cues that bulk is done.

  Aug 20, 2026 →

• Sourdough hydration and baker's percentage, calculated properly

  Sourdough hydration explained with real baker's percentage math, including the starter's own flour and water, plus ranges for salt and inoculation.

  Aug 17, 2026 →

• Sourdough float test: what it measures and what it misses

  The sourdough float test measures gas retention, not yeast health. Here's why active starters sink, plus the two checks that actually predict readiness.

  Aug 14, 2026 →

• How to feed sourdough starter: pick the ratio, set the clock

  How to feed sourdough starter using ratios as a timer: 1:1:1, 1:2:2 and 1:5:5 peak times by temperature, plus a schedule that cuts discard to almost nothing.

  Aug 11, 2026 →

• How to make sourdough starter from scratch, day by day

  How to make sourdough starter from scratch in 14 days — what happens in the jar each day, why the day-3 bubbles lie, and how to know it's ready to bake.

  Aug 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Sourdough Baker AI Alternatives in 2026: Rise Beyond the

  Compare 9 sourdough baker AI alternatives covering platform support, hydration calculators, feeding reminders, and scoring guides. Find the best fit for your workflow.

  Jul 8, 2026 →

• Best 8 Bread Boss Alternatives in 2026: Sourdough Tracking & More

  Discover the best bread boss alternatives for 2026. We compare 8 baking apps on platform support, scoring rules, watch integration, and recipe management features.

  Jul 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Loaflo Alternatives in 2026: Track Your Sourdough Better

  Compare 9 loaflo alternatives covering iOS, Android, and web. We evaluate hydration calculators, feeding schedules, and scoring guides to find your best fit.

  Jul 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Flourwise Alternatives in 2026: Bake Smarter, Not Harder

  Discover the best 9 flourwise alternatives in 2026. We compare platforms, watch support, and scoring rules to find the right baking journal for your routine.

  Jul 8, 2026 →

• Best 7 Homebaker Alternatives in 2026: Bake Smarter, Not Harder

  We compare 7 homebaker alternatives across platforms, recipe scaling, and fermentation logs. Find the right fit for your baking workflow without the guesswork.

  Jul 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Sourfriend Alternatives in 2026: Track Your Starter

  Explore the best sourfriend alternatives for iOS and Android. We compare 9 apps on feeding schedules, watch support, hydration math, and scoring rules.

  Jul 8, 2026 →

• Best 8 Rise App Alternatives in 2026: Track Sleep Smarter

  Searching for rise app alternatives? We compare 8 sleep and energy trackers on platform support, wearable integration, scoring rules, and privacy features.

  Jul 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Miette Alternatives in 2026: Track Your Sourdough Better

  Compare the best miette alternatives across iOS, Android, and Apple Watch. We evaluate hydration tracking, scoring rules, and community features to find your fit.

  Jul 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Sourdough Forge Alternatives in 2026: Track Your Bakes

  Searching for sourdough forge alternatives? We compare 9 apps on platform support, watch compatibility, scoring rules, and scheduling features to find your perfect fit.

  Jul 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Sourdough Lab Alternatives in 2026: Track Your Starter

  Searching for sourdough lab alternatives? We compare 9 apps across platform support, feeding reminders, hydration math, and scoring rules to find your ideal fit.

  Jul 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Yeasta Alternatives in 2026: Sourdough Baking Apps Ranked

  Discover the best 9 yeasta alternatives for 2026. We compare sourdough baking apps on platform support, watch integration, scoring rules, and recipe management.

  Jul 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Breadly Alternatives in 2026: Rise to Better Baking

  Searching for breadly alternatives? We compare 9 baking apps on platform support, watch integration, scoring rules, and hydration math to find your perfect fit.

  Jul 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Sourdough AI Alternatives in 2026: Rise Smarter, Not

  Explore 9 sourdough ai alternatives comparing platform support, Apple Watch integration, feeding reminders, and scoring rules to find the right baking companion.

  Jul 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Fermenthero Alternatives in 2026: Track Your Ferments

  Discover the best 9 fermenthero alternatives in 2026. We compare platforms, recipe scaling, pH tracking, and Apple Watch support to find your ideal fermentation log.

  Jul 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Sourdough Making Toolkits in 2026: Rise to Perfection

  Discover 9 sourdough making toolkit alternatives comparing platform availability, feeding schedules, hydration calculators, and recipe scaling features.

  Jul 8, 2026 →

• Best 8 Autoproofer Alternatives in 2026: Smarter Dough Tracking

  Discover the best autoproofer alternatives for home bakers. We compare 8 apps across platform support, scoring rules, and watch integration to find your perfect fit.

  Jul 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Bread Planner Alternatives in 2026: Rise to Better Baking

  Searching for bread planner alternatives? We compare 9 baking apps on scheduling flexibility, hydration calculators, watch support, and scoring rules to find your fit.

  Jul 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Sourdoughguru Alternatives in 2026: Rise to Better Baking

  Looking for sourdoughguru alternatives? We compare 9 apps on feeding schedules, hydration math, Apple Watch support, and recipe scaling to find your perfect fit.

  Jul 8, 2026 →