Breads Made with Yeasted Pre-Ferments

Wheat seed is received by the earth as it is preparing to hibernate. The shoots sprout slowly, feeling the warmth underneath the snow and preserving the evanescence of dreams as they grow.

—Giancarlo Consonni, author

In this Chapter, we will look at a selection of breads made with yeasted pre-ferments. The benefits of using pre-ferments are undeniable, from the perspective of flavor, dough strength, keeping quality, and reduced production time (see Chapter 1, The Bread-Making Process from Mixing through Baking, for a full explanation of the benefits of pre-ferments).