Print or copy this one-bake record
| Field | Your notes |
|---|---|
| Bake date and recipe version | ______________________________ |
| Flour blend, water, starter and salt in grams | ______________________________ |
| Starter feed, ripeness and hydration | ______________________________ |
| Mix time, dough temperature and starting level | ______________________________ |
| Actual fold times and feel at last fold | ______________________________ |
| End-of-bulk time, rise and dough feel | ______________________________ |
| Shape time and basket release | ______________________________ |
| Proof start, finish and temperature | ______________________________ |
| Preheat, oven load, lid off and bake finish | ______________________________ |
| Cooling time, centre-slice photo and result | ______________________________ |
| One change for the next loaf | ______________________________ |
Use the same units and starting mark when you repeat a loaf. Note whether the rise came from the full dough or an aliquot sample. The percentage-rise guide shows how to turn two readings into a percentage. [1]
A worked comparison
| Check | Bake A | Bake B |
|---|---|---|
| Dough after mixing | 24°C and 400 mL | 22°C and 400 mL |
| At shaping | 600 mL, aerated | 540 mL, felt tight |
| After cooling | Even crumb for this formula | Tight base below a few tunnels |
These are example entries. Both use the same starting volume. Bake A rose 50%, while Bake B rose 35%. If flour, starter routine, proof and oven setup were comparable, the cooler dough and tighter shaping cue give you a reason to check bulk later next time. Do not assume that matching the number alone will match the crumb. Record the handling cue and compare the centre slice again. [1] [2]
Crispy Crust’s planned bake journal would store the same fields with photos and let you copy a previous bake. If you prefer paper, start with the table and add only the details you actually use to make a decision.
For your first repeat, circle one row in the template. Write down the one thing you plan to change and what you expect to observe. Keep the original record beside the new one so a difference in outcome can be traced back to an actual measurement.