How to use Bulk Planner
Plan the loaf first, then let the timer carry the details.
Start with when you want to bake. Bulk Planner turns that into a guided sourdough schedule with formula math, water temperature, fold alerts, cold proof timing, and learning logs.
Quick start
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1
Pick a bake time
Open Guide and choose the date and time you want the loaf to be ready to bake. Bulk Planner works backward to suggest when to start mixing.
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2
Choose a loaf style or saved formula
Use Mostly white, Spelt blend, Rye-forward, or load a saved formula. The selected formula changes hydration, grain mix, starter percentage, and handling guidance.
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3
Confirm the kitchen
Set room temperature, starter condition, fridge temperature, banneton type, and planned cold proof. These values shape the bulk and cold proof recommendation.
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4
Mix with the suggested water temperature
The app suggests water temperature from target dough temp, flour temp, room temp, starter temp, and friction factor. You can override actual water temp if needed.
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5
Start the schedule
Start at the suggested mix time, start now, or schedule a start reminder. Alerts cover autolyse, folds, preshape, final shape, cold proof, and bake time.
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6
Log what happened
After baking, log actual mix time, ready time, starter notes, and dough notes. Bulk Planner uses those local logs to tune future timing for your kitchen.
What to enter
Dough weight
Enter the target dough weight per loaf and the loaf count. Bulk Planner calculates total flour, water, salt, and starter.
Starter percentage
The starter field is the mass of 100% hydration starter as a percent of total flour. Around 12% to 30% is the strongest prediction range.
Sluggish starter
Use this when your starter is slow, young, cold, or past peak. If you log starter peaks, the app can estimate this more accurately over time.
Banneton type
Regular bannetons chill slowly. Frozen and thick frozen bannetons pull heat faster, so the app can recommend a slightly different cold proof strategy.
Alerts and Live Activities
Bulk Planner uses local iPhone notifications for schedule alerts. Apple Watch can mirror those alerts when iPhone notification mirroring is enabled. On supported iPhones, the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island can show the active schedule, next step, fold count, and time remaining.