Description
Sourdough bagel baking combines natural fermentation with a brief alkaline boil and precise oven temperatures to produce a chewy interior and crisp, golden crust.
Technical
During bulk fermentation, the sourdough starter ferments sugars via anaerobic glycolysis, producing CO₂, ethanol, and organic acids that leaven the dough and develop flavor. The alkaline boiling step gelatinizes surface starches and raises the pH, accelerating Maillard reactions during baking, which form melanoidins responsible for the characteristic crust color and aroma.
Science
Primary Reaction
Anaerobic fermentation and Maillard browning
Sensory Profile
Aroma ()
nuttyyeastytoastyalmondsweetmaltycaramelized
Origin & History
Civilization