Recipe · Country Loaf · Overnight
82% Hydration Overnight Country Loaf
A country loaf blends bread flour with whole grains for a hearty crumb that still holds a sandwich together. The whole-grain flour brings flavor and color, the white flour keeps the structure, and the long ferment makes them work together.
Total time
14 hours
Active
75 minutes
Hydration
82%
Difficulty
⌬⌬⌬
At 82% hydration, the dough barely holds its own shape. The reward is dramatic: large irregular holes, a crisp blistered crust, and the flavor that comes from very wet doughs that have spent a long time fermenting. The cost is technique.
The overnight schedule is the home baker's standard. Mix in the evening, cold-ferment in the refrigerator overnight, shape and bake the next morning. Flavor improves dramatically with time, and the schedule fits a normal life.
Ingredients
1000g total dough. Yields 1 country loaf, ~900g baked.
| Ingredient | Grams | Baker's % |
|---|---|---|
| Bread flour | 367 g | 75% |
| Whole wheat flour | 123 g | 25% |
| Water | 402 g | 82% |
| Salt | 9.8 g | 2% |
| Active sourdough starter (100% hydration) | 98 g | 20% |
Schedule
- Day 1, 6:00 PMMix flour and water. Autolyse 30 minutes.
- Day 1, 6:30 PMAdd starter and salt. Mix until combined.
- Day 1, 7:00 PMStretch and fold every 30 minutes for 2 hours.
- Day 1, 9:00 PMBulk ferment 1-2 more hours at room temperature.
- Day 1, 10:30 PMShape into a tight boule, place seam-up in a floured banneton. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Day 2, 7:00 AMPull from the refrigerator. Preheat the oven and Dutch oven to bake temperature.
- Day 2, 8:00 AMScore the loaf. Bake at 475°F covered for 25 minutes, then uncovered for 20 more minutes.
Method tips for this style
Hydrate the whole-grain portion separately for 30 minutes before adding the white flour. The whole grains absorb water more slowly, and pre-soaking them gives a more even final hydration in the dough.
What to expect
A genuinely open, irregular crumb with a glossy interior and a thin crisp crust. The overnight cold ferment adds depth without the time commitment of a multi-day schedule.
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