Bread Machine Sourdough

Bread machine sourdough is light, airy, and delicious with a perfectly crisp crust. I bet you didn't know it was so easy to make bread maker sourdough!

Kevy called me from work while I was reorganizing the fridge. Heavy sigh.

Usually, that's a him job, because it doesn't really bug me. But at this point, I've got various sourdough starters, discards, and somewhere-in-betweens happening in there and I have run out of room.

He was razzing me about my ferment-y buddies taking up all the fridge space and I thought to myself: I gotta deal with this and I really don't need to eat more sourdough brownies!

This sourdough bread machine recipe is dedicated to using discard!

Jump to:

• Tips + Tricks
• Key Ingredients
• How To Make Bread Machine Sourdough Bread
• Bake In The Oven
• Batch + Storage Information
• More Sourdough Recipes To Try!
• Variations + Substitutions
• Recommended Equipment
• 📖 Printable Recipe

Tips + Tricks

No. 1 --> New to sourdough? Need a starter? Check out my super easy sourdough starter. It's ready in 24 hours!

No. 2 --> As with ALL my recipes, make absolutely sure to measure your flour using the scoop and level method. This involves vigorously stirring the flour in your container or bag, then spooning it into your measuring cup before leveling it off using the back of a knife or spoon handle. This ensures a more consistent result from batch to batch.

No. 3 --> This is a "quick" sourdough bread maker recipe as we are using discard and also instant yeast. It doesn't have the same amount of tang as an overnight fermented sourdough loaf, but it's damn delicious either way!

No. 4 --> Not all sourdough discards are equal. A fresher, recent sourdough discard will have a much more mild sour flavor than an aged discard that's been hiding in the back of your fridge for 3 weeks. I prefer to use a discard that's been fed within the last 7 days.

Key Ingredients

Sourdough Discard: This recipe is pretty flexible when it comes to starter discard. Use the stuff you've been saving in the fridge for a week or use the leftover's from this morning's feeding. Just make sure your starter is 100% hydration, and you stir down any bubbles before measuring! Ensure your discard is near room temperature before using, and stir in any hooch that has accumulated on the top, this affects the flavor as well as the hydration level.

Flour: Use a high protein flour in this recipe, something like unbleached bread flour or all purpose flour with 13+% protein. Calculate protein content as follows:

Grams of Protein / Grams per Serving = _________ X 100 = ______%.
ex: 4g protein /30g per serving =.1333 x 100= 13.3% protein

Yeast: Because sometimes you just want instant gratification when it comes to sourdough goodies, this recipe is written with instant yeast included. You'll be enjoying freshly baked sourdough bread machine bread in mere hours with this recipe!

How To Make Bread Machine Sourdough Bread

1. Combine sourdough discard, water, oil, sugar, and salt in the baking pan of your bread maker.
2. Add the flour on top of the liquid ingredients.
3. Sprinkle the yeast on top of the flour, avoid any wet spots.
4. Place the baking pan into the bread machine and select the Crusty or French loaf setting.
5. Once the bread has baked, remove it from the bread machine, and turn it onto a wire mesh rack to cool as soon as possible. Brush the top of the loaf with softened butter or margarine.
6. Allow the sourdough bread to cool completely before slicing. (If you can't wait, the bread is still delicious, but it's just harder to slice!)

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Bake In The Oven

You can certainly bake this bread machine sourdough bread in the oven! Follow these steps:

1. Follow steps 1-3 as you would if baking in the bread machine.
2. Place the baking pan into the bread machine and choose the "Dough" cycle.
3. Once the dough cycle is complete, turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface, and shape it into a boule or a loaf, then transfer it to a greased baking dish.
4. Cover baking dishes with a clean kitchen towel and allow to rise for 45- 60 minutes, or until doubled in size.
5. Near the end of the rising, preheat the oven to 350f.
6. Bake your loaves at 350f for approximately 30 minutes or until golden brown on top. Turn onto a wire rack when done baking and brush with softened butter or margarine.

Batch + Storage Information

Batch:

This recipe makes one 1 1/2 lb loaf of sourdough bread. Unfortunately, due to constraints in the bread machine it cannot be doubled.

Storage:

Store your bread machine sourdough cut side down on a cutting board for up to 12 hours before the crust becomes too crisp. After 12 hours, I recommend transferring it to a bread bag.

Your sourdough loaf can also be frozen. To freeze, cool the loaf to room temperature, then tightly wrap it in plastic wrap, slide it into a bread bag, seal it up and stick it in the freezer for 1-2 months. To use after freezing, remove the loaf from the freezer, unwrap and allow to come to room temperature (1 -2 hours) before slicing and enjoying.

More Sourdough Recipes To Try!

Variations + Substitutions

This is simply a base recipe. Get creative!

• Swap the granulated sugar for brown sugar for a hint of caramel flavor
• Use olive oil instead of vegetable oil
• Omit the oil and use water instead for a crispier crust
• Make it cardamom cranberry bread by adding 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 2 teaspoons cardamom, and 1 cup of chopped craisins.
• Make it everything bagel bread by pausing the cycle immediately before baking, brush the surface of the loaf with an egg wash, and sprinkle generously with everything bagel seasoning.

Recommended Equipment

Bread maker: I have and love a BREVILLE CUSTOM LOAF. It takes everything I throw at it, and I throw a LOT at it! It's got a decent footprint and can handle larger batches of bread. I also love that the loaf pan is the perfect size to fit in my kids' SISTEMA SANDWICH CONTAINERS. Check out my other bread recipes!

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