Follow up to my sourdough baking - still a novice
This as a follow up that I'm addressing to all those persons who have helped me in the last few months and also to those who may have read my postings out of mere curiosity or for any other reason.
In my most recent attempt I achieved what I consider to be a big improvement in my baking efforts. This time I ensured that the starter build up and bulk fermentation took place in a controlled temperature environment. I devised a "proofing pot", no not a box, with a thermostat which kept the bulk fermentation at a nearly constant temperature. I also did a part of the proofing under controlled temperature. I posted a photo of the prototype proofing pot here [1] if anyone is interested to see my Heath Robinson/Rube Goldberg contraption.
Bulk fermentation and proofing under a controlled temperature was a huge revelation to me. Firstly, my starter build tripled in size which is something that I had never achieved till then. Secondly, the dough which I put in the fridge overnight and covered so as not to dry out, filled the banneton and would have overflowed if I had not had it covered with a shower cap! In truth I could do with getting less rise during the overnight proofing stage. I'll have to do something about this, but I don't know exactly what. I should mention that the overnight proofing period was 14 hours long because I overslept... :)
Learning from my many mistakes which people here have been very patient to help me with and provided me with a number of ways to avoid them, I made what I would consider a decent sourdough with just the right sour undertones.
Thank you for your assistance so far.