Day 1: (Evening) Make the Levain

Make the levain: In a medium bowl, mix together the starter, water, and bread flour until well-combined. Cover with a plate and rest overnight (8-12 hours) until very bubbly and active. The levain should have many small bubbles across the top and throughout.

Day 2: Mix the dough, first rise, and shape. 

1. In the morning, transfer all of the levain to a large bowl. Add the water and bread flour, and mix until all of the flour is incorporated and a shaggy dough is formed. Cover with a lid or damp towel and set aside 45 minutes to rest. This is called the autolyse.
2. After the 45 minute rest period, add the salt to the dough and squeeze and pinch the salt into the dough until evenly distributed. Perform a set of stretch and folds (see video), then cover and set aside for 30 minutes to rest.
3. Continue to perform a set of stretch and folds every 30 minutes for 3 hours, covering and resting in between each round.
4. Gently tip the dough onto a lightly floured surface and cut it into 3 equal portions. Using a circular cupping motion with the palm of your hand, gently roll each ball of dough on the countertop to a create a taut ball. Gently dust with flour and cover with a towel. Bench rest 30 minutes.
5. Shape: Sprinkle your countertop with flour and gently pat the first ball of dough into a rectangle, approximately 9-inches long. Fold the top third of the dough down (like folding a business letter) and press it into the dough, using the heel of your hand, to stick the edges together. Rotate the dough 180 degrees and repeat so that both the bottom and top thirds have been folded in. Fold the dough in half once more to create a slim silhouette, and, again, use the heel of your hand to connect the edges. Roll the dough so it’s seam-side down and press and roll the dough out so that a baguette shape forms, pinching the edges to taper them, if necessary.

6. Place seam side down on a greased baguette pan or heavily dusted, parchment-lined sheet pan.
7. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Day 3: Morning. Preheat, score and bake!

The next morning, preheat the oven to 500°F (260°C) with the oven racks positioned in the middle and one level below. Have a baking sheet ready to add ice cubes to. (See notes.)

Score: When the oven is hot, remove the baguette dough from the fridge. Using a lame (or sharp knife or razor blade), make 3-5 diagonal slashes into each piece of dough (¼-½ inch deep).

Bake: Place a handful of ice cubes onto the second baking sheet. Immediately place the baguette dough into the oven on the middle rack and place the baking sheet with ice on the rack below. Close the oven door and turn the temperature down to 450°F. Bake for 30 – 35 minutes, or until the bread is a deep golden brown.  Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.

Bread is best eaten on the day that it’s made, but if stored in paper will keep an additional day. You can freeze baguettes sliced or whole. If slicing, freeze individual slices on a baking sheet, then place into a freezer bag. If freezing whole, wrap tightly with plastic freezer wrap, then place in a freezer bag. Bread will keep this way for a few months.