Temperature × recipe
Sourdough English Muffin at 83–87°F
Adjusted timing: 1.1h bulk + 6.7h proof (multiplier 0.56×).
- Baseline bulk (76°F)
- 2h
- Adjusted bulk
- 1.1h
- Baseline proof
- 12h
- Adjusted proof
- 6.7h
- Multiplier
- 0.56×
- Activity
- hyperactive
- Target hydration
- 72%
- Bake temp
- 350°F
Why the timing shifts
Hot kitchen — summer without AC, near-window light. Ferment nearly 2× faster than baseline. Not ideal — fermentation outpaces gluten development, leading to over-acidic flavor and collapsed structure. If unavoidable, use very low levain (10-12%), minimal bulk (2h max), and get dough into cold retard ASAP. Consider reducing bulk temperature by moving dough to cooler location (basement, refrigerator brief intervals).
Technique for Sourdough English Muffin
Mix dough, 2h bulk. Refrigerate overnight (12-16h). Portion into 90g pieces, shape into rounds, dust with cornmeal, place in ring molds on parchment. Proof 60-90 min at room temp. Heat cast-iron skillet on medium-low (350°F), cook each muffin 7 min per side, flipping once. Split with fork (don't cut) for best texture.
Calculator pre-set to these values
- Multiplier at 85°F
- 0.56×
- Adjusted bulk ferment
- 1.1 h
- Adjusted final proof
- 6.7 h
How the math works
Multipliers are piecewise-linear interpolations between reference points measured by Myhrvold et al. in Modernist Bread vol 3. 76°F is the baseline (1.0×); every 10°F drop roughly doubles fermentation time, and every 10°F rise roughly halves it.