Temperature × recipe
Miche (Poilâne-Style) at 36–40°F
Adjusted timing: 14.5h bulk + 34.8h proof (multiplier 2.90×).
- Baseline bulk (76°F)
- 5h
- Adjusted bulk
- 14.5h
- Baseline proof
- 12h
- Adjusted proof
- 34.8h
- Multiplier
- 2.90×
- Activity
- dormant
- Target hydration
- 78%
- Bake temp
- 480°F
Why the timing shifts
Refrigerator territory — used for overnight retard during proofing or bulk slowdown. 12-16 hours at this temperature is equivalent to 1-1.5 hours at 76°F baseline. Essential for flavor development in artisan sourdough. Cold retard improves shape retention, enables flexible scheduling, and develops deeper tangy flavors. Place dough in floured banneton, cover, refrigerate at this temperature.
Technique for Miche (Poilâne-Style)
Autolyse 60 min with all water at 80°F. Add levain, salt. 4 folds in 2h. Long bulk 5h at 76°F. Shape very tight boule, heavily flour banneton. Cold retard 12h. Bake in LARGE dutch oven (7-qt minimum) at 480°F: 30 min lid on, 30 min lid off, or until internal 210°F.
Calculator pre-set to these values
- Multiplier at 38°F
- 2.9×
- Adjusted bulk ferment
- 14.5 h
- Adjusted final proof
- 34.8 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.