Hot take: you don't need to preheat your oven for a full hour for sourdough

Abby Butler · 2026-03-14T03:10:07.459501+00:00

I keep seeing folks in videos saying you need to preheat your home oven with a Dutch oven inside for 60 minutes. I've been baking in my apartment in Chicago for 3 years, and my loaves get just as good oven spring with a 30 minute preheat. I think a full hour just wastes a ton of energy for most home setups. Has anyone else tested shorter preheat times with good results?

jakesanchez7mo ago

Check how you're measuring the oven's actual heat. I mean, the light coming on doesn't mean it's at the right temp, so maybe your shorter preheat works because your oven runs hot.

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the_william7mo ago

I used to do the full hour, but you're right.

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nora9547mo ago

Remember reading about how ovens can vary wildly in how fast they get to temp. My old stove took forever, but my current one is ready in twenty minutes flat. It made me start checking with a cheap oven thermometer instead of just trusting the timer. Found out my "preheated" light comes on about fifty degrees cooler than it should.

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