Hi Nick, It sounds like you've developed an excellent method for baking your bread! I usually do spray my sourdough loaves before baking, even when baking in a cloche or Dutch oven. A little added moisture won't hurt. I vary whether I spray before or after I score the loaf, depending on how sticky the dough is. If the surface is very sticky, you can even put a little flour on the surface of the loaf in order to score the loaf more effectively, and then spray the loaf after. However, if the loaf is over-risen, spraying after you score may make the loaf more likely to seal along the score line rather than opening up properly. Barb

• Reply