Fermentation timing

Sourdough English Muffin — Timing by Kitchen Temperature

Baseline: 2h bulk + 12h proof at 76°F. Adjust for your kitchen below.

Temperature × time table

Kitchen tempMultiplierBulk (h)Proof (h)
62°F2.20×4.426.4
68°F1.58×3.218.9
72°F1.23×2.514.7
76°F1.00×2.012.0
80°F0.78×1.69.4
85°F0.56×1.16.7

Calculator pre-set to Sourdough English Muffin

Multiplier at 76°F
Adjusted bulk ferment
2 h
Adjusted final proof
12 h
How the math works

Multipliers are piecewise-linear interpolations between reference points measured by Myhrvold et al. in Modernist Bread vol 3. 76°F is the baseline (1.0×); every 10°F drop roughly doubles fermentation time, and every 10°F rise roughly halves it.

Sources: Myhrvold et al., Modernist Bread vol 3 (temperature multipliers); King Arthur Baking — Sourdough English Muffin recipe (reference).