The poke test is a somewhat reliable way to know if your sourdough bread has finished its final proof and is ready for the oven Gently press the dough with your finger * If the dough springs back quickly, it’s under-proofed. Give it more time in the fridge, or consider leaving it out on the counter for an hour or so, to speed up fermentation. * If the indentation springs back slowly but not completely, your dough is ready. Go ahead and bake it. * If the indentation stays and the dough doesn’t sp

How to know if your sourdough is ready for baking (poke test): 👉 Gently press the dough with your finger: • Springs back quickly — under-proofed. Give it more time. • Slow, partial spring-back — ready to bake. • Indentation stays — over-proofed. You can bake it, but it will be flatter. The poke test works only for the final proof, not for shaping! It isn’t always 100% accurate — every dough behaves differently. Practice and learning to read your dough is the key ❤️🥖 . . . #sourdoughstarter #mi