Hi Team C&C, I'm trying to make my first Starter from scratch and after day 4, I keep getting a thick hard layer on top. Does anyone have an idea as to why? I've changed the hydration and even changed the cover on top to both get more air and get less air but the result is the same. I'm using a 1-1-1 ratio when I feed 60-60-60 to make a sourdough starter.

The Cold Retard: Why the Refrigerator Is Your Secret Weapon. Most bakers think the fridge is just a convenience. Put the dough in, go to sleep, bake in the morning. That part is true. But what's actually happening inside that cold environment is where the real lesson lives. Your yeast slows down. Your bacteria don't. That's the whole secret. Flavor develops while fermentation pumps the brakes. Cold dough is also easier to score, holds its shape better going into a hot oven, and gives you a window of flexibility that room temperature proofing just can't match. If your bread has been tasting flat or your crumb has been dense and gummy, the cold retard might be exactly what you've been missing. Head to the Classroom and take the quiz. It's short, it's sharp, and it'll tell you whether this concept is locked in or if there's a gap worth closing. Where bakers come not to get likes, but to get better. Henry ⭐🔥 https://bread-quiz-master.lovable.app/quiz/the-cold-retard-why-the-refrigerator-is-your-secre

I was wondering how you get a beautiful white coating on a sourdough loaf similar to the Crust & Crumb logo?

It's a fermentation chamber. And once you understand what's actually happening inside that bowl of dough overnight, you'll never skip this step again. I just dropped a new lesson this week that breaks down the cold retard from the ground up. Not just what it is. The actual science behind why it makes your bread better in three ways at once: deeper flavor, relaxed gluten that shapes without fighting you, and firm butter that creates clean layers in enriched doughs like the babka we're baking this Saturday. This lesson is directly tied to what we're doing this weekend. If you're mixing your babka dough Friday night and shaping Saturday morning, you're going to feel exactly what this lesson is talking about the moment you touch that cold dough. Watch the video, then come back here and tell me what you noticed when you rolled it out Saturday morning. The recipe links are in the Recipe Pantry. Drop a comment below and let me know which path you're taking this weekend. Path A: Sourdough Chocolate Babka Path B: Holiday Chocolate Babka Path C: Savory Henry ⭐🔥

@Buddy Tatum said he was going to quit if he didn't improve. He came back Monday with a side-by-side showing dramatic improvement on his 2nd loaf. Buddy, I think you'll be around a while