My first sourdough loaf crumbled like a sand castle, but here's what I learned | Bread Baking Basics

Hannah Owens · 2026-07-31T18:05:06.368277+00:00

Last Sunday I tried my first sourdough loaf after 3 weeks of babying a starter, and it came out of the oven looking perfect, then fell apart into chunks the second I sliced it. Turns out I skipped the final proofing step because I was rushing to catch a bus downtown, and the gluten never relaxed enough. I salvaged the crumbs by toasting them with butter and garlic for soup croutons, which honestly saved the whole evening. The real fix was letting the dough rest for 45 extra minutes on my counter, and watching for that jiggle test before baking. Has anyone else had a loaf collapse on them, and what did you do with the wreckage?

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My first sourdough loaf crumbled like a sand castle, but here's what I learned | Bread Baking Basics - The Community Guide