Looking for a hands-off method for baking homemade sourdough bread? Here’s how I bake my sourdough sandwich loaf with a bread machine!

I can’t believe more people don’t use a bread machine at all! Baking your sourdough bread in a bread machine is super easy and helpful during the hot summer months when you don’t want to turn the oven on in the late afternoon. It’s also really great for busy seasons because it’s very hands-off.

It’s as easy as measuring out the ingredients, kneading it, letting it rise, and then baking it! All this is done in the bread machine pan without getting your hands too dirty.

Can I bake sourdough bread in my breadmaker?

Yes, you can bake sourdough in a bread machine. There isn’t one setting for it, however. You have to use two different options, but it is still pretty hands-off. You simply use the kneading option, let it sit to ferment and rise nearly to the top of the pan, then use the bake option to bake the bread.

What bread machine should I get?

I have the Amazon Basics Bread Machine and I love it. It’s nice to have when I need to make bread, but don’t have the time or energy to do it. My bread machine makes this possible. 

It’s great for busy seasons like post-partum or even just the random busy weeks where it never rains; it just pours.

Also, I love using my bread machine as a substitute for a mixer! I use the kneading option for most sourdough recipes to incorporate the ingredients, let it rest and rise a bit in there and then bake it in the oven. This is a great option if you can’t invest in a stand mixer, but want something to mix the dough for you. A basic bread machine is so much cheaper than a mixer!

Note: I am an amazon affiliate and this post contains an affiliate link. This means I make a small commission when you make a purchase through one of my links. Thanks for supporting the blog in this way!

Equipment

• Scale or measuring cups
• Bread machine

Ingredients

• 100g (3/4c) sourdough starter
• 300g (1 1/4c) water
• 550g (4 1/2c) flour – 100g (3/4c) of flour is for your starter.
• 3T olive oil or butter
• 2t salt

Directions

Attach the kneading hook to the bottom of the bread machine and measure out all your ingredients into the bread machine pan.

Feed your starter with the remaining flour.

Place the bread machine pan into the bread machine and lock it into place (mine twists in towards the left.).

Select the kneading option and push start. On this bread machine, this is option 8. It kneads for 20 minutes. You’ll want to knead it twice to make sure it is well-kneaded. You may want to remove the dough hook at this point so that it doesn’t bake with it in the loaf, however, this is not entirely necessary. This bread machine comes with a little tool solely for this purpose.

Let it rest and rise until the dough gets near the top which takes about 4-6 hours depending on the temperature and weather. 

Once the dough has risen nearly to the top, select the bake option and push start. This is option 13 on this beard machine and it bakes it for 1 hour.

Once it’s done baking, use a hot pad to take the pan out of the bread machine and let it cool for at least 30 minutes before dumping it out. 

Enjoy!

Save for later!