Sourdough Troubleshooting: Find Your Problem and Fix It Fast
Every sourdough problem has a cause — and almost every cause has a straightforward fix. This page is your starting point. Find your symptom below, click through to the full guide, and get back to baking.
What’s going wrong? Find it Fast.
| Symptom | Go To: |
| I’m new and not sure where to start | → Start Here |
| My dough sticks to everything | → Sourdough Too Sticky |
| My starter won’t rise after feeding | → Sourdough Starter Not Rising |
| My loaf came out gummy inside | → Sourdough Gummy Inside |
| My loaf didn’t rise in the oven | → No Oven Spring |
| My loaf spread sideways instead of up | → Sourdough Spread Sideways |
| I’m new and don’t know where to start | → What I Wish I Knew |
| My sourdough tastes too sour or not sour enough | → Sour Sourdough Guide |
| My dough is too wet/slack | → Sourdough Hydration Guide |
| My starter seems dead or won’t activate | → Sourdough Starter Not Rising |
| I don’t know if my dough is ready to bake | → Learn the poke test |
| My results are inconsistent – sometimes great, sometimes not | → Check Your Temperature |
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What I Wish I Knew Before My First Sourdough Loaf
My first sourdough loaf was a flat, dense, gummy disaster. It looked like someone had sat on it. The crust […]
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Why Did My Sourdough Spread Sideways? (And How to Fix It)
You shaped your loaf, it looked great going into the oven — and then it baked into a wide, flat […]
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Sourdough Not Rising in the Oven? Here’s Why Your Oven Spring Failed
You shaped your dough, proofed it overnight, and slid it into a screaming hot Dutch oven. But when you lifted […]
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Why Is My Sourdough Gummy Inside? (And How to Fix It)
You waited all day. You scored it beautifully, baked it in your Dutch oven, and pulled out a gorgeous golden […]
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Sourdough Starter Not Rising? Here’s Exactly Why (And How to Fix It)
You fed your starter, set it on the counter, and waited. And waited. And… nothing. If your sourdough starter is […]
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Sour Sourdough Bread: How to Get Tangier (or Milder) Loaves
If you’ve ever taken a bite of sourdough and thought, “This is tangier than usual,” you’re not imagining things. The sour flavor […]
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Sourdough Too Sticky? Here’s How to Fix ItSourdough Too Sticky? Here’s Exactly How to Fix ItSourdough Too Sticky? Here’s How to Fix It
Is your sourdough sticking to everything — your hands, the counter, the banneton, the bench scraper? You’re not doing anything […]
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Best Temperature for Sourdough Fermentation: A Complete Guide
If you’ve ever wondered why your sourdough sometimes rises too quickly, takes forever, or bakes up dense, the answer often […]
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Same Day Sourdough: How to Bake a Great Loaf in 8 Hours
Sourdough has a reputation for being a two-day project. And for good reason — a traditional schedule involves an overnight […]
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Sourdough Proofing Test : How to Know When Your Dough is Ready
Learn the proofing test to know when your sourdough is done proofing. Discover how temperature, time, and the poke test […]
New Baker? Start Here Instead
Not Sure What Went Wrong? Start With This.
If you’re new to sourdough and something went wrong on your first or second bake, the problem is usually one of the basics — starter activity, temperature, or proofing time. Before diving into specific troubleshooting, this guide covers the ten most common beginner mistakes and exactly what to change.
Can’t Find Your Problem?
If your problem isn’t listed here, it’s likely covered in one of our in-depth guides. Browse our full Learn Sourdough section, or use the search bar at the top of the page. New troubleshooting guides are added regularly — bookmark this page and check back.