Kneading sourdough bread dough is usually done with the traditional kneading motion of folding the dough over, turning it, and folding again with the palms of your hands or a wooden spoon, but there are many alternatives to this approach if you find yourself without the time or space for kneading. Here are ways You Knead Sourdough without requiring large amounts of space or time to do so.

The Traditional Method

Traditional sourdough is not a quick process and should take about 2 days to complete. The first step is to mix flour and water in a bowl until all the flour is hydrated. Next, cover with cling film and leave at room temperature for 12 hours. In the morning, add more flour and water to make a dough that looks similar to pancake batter, cover with cling film again, and leave at room temperature overnight.

The No-Knead Method

With this no-knead method, all you need is a bowl and a clean towel or tea towel. If the dough has been chilled, let it sit at room temperature for one hour before proceeding. Stir together flour and salt in a large bowl. Add water and mix with a wooden spoon until everything starts to come together. Cover the dough with the clean tea towel or kitchen cloth (this will prevent too much evaporation) and leave it alone on the counter for 12 to 18 hours.

The Overnight Method

This is my favorite because it’s so simple. Put the dough in a bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and leave it at room temperature for 12 hours. The only downside is that the dough will likely double in size overnight. I recommend using a larger container or a bucket to avoid spilling over. When you are ready to bake, put the dough back into an oiled mixing bowl and let it sit for 2-3 hours.

Start with a small batch of dough (1/4 cup flour) if this method doesn’t sound like something you want to do regularly.

The Stretch and Fold Method

The easiest way to make sourdough is with a stretch and fold method. This technique involves taking the dough out of the bowl, stretching it across the width of the bowl, folding it back on itself, and repeating this process for 10-15 minutes until the dough has doubled in size. Once that happens, you take the dough out and put it into a greased loaf pan or onto a baking tray. If you want, sprinkle some flour over top before you cover it up with plastic wrap and let it rise for 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius) and bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius) for 20 minutes.