Folding the Dough

It helps to think of the dough as having four sides when folding (even if it is in a round bowl). Wet one hand while the other holds the container or bowl and reach under the dough and lift it as far as you can without tearing and place the lifted section onto the centre of the dough. Repeat on the other three sides. Four folds should be fine with practice but you can do eight or more if you think it needs it or if you are being very gentle. It is time to stop when you feel resistance in the dough; don’t be tempted to tear it or keep going at that point. Then turn the ball of dough over so the bottom is now at the top of the bowl. This helps keep the tension you have just created as the seam is now underneath the weight of the dough.