The Dough Lab vs First Loaf

The Dough Lab is a complete baking workspace for sourdough, pizza, artisan bread, and production baking. Plan your bake day, manage precise formulas, follow every step, and learn from each result. BAKE DAY Coordinate multiple batches without losing track of timers or next actions. • Plan several recipes and batches on one timeline • Work backward from your target baking time • Monitor active bakes and upcoming steps together • Keep independent timers, folds, notes, and progress for every batch • Continue interrupted or paused bakes • Generate a combined shopping list for planned batches RECIPES & BAKER’S MATH Create accurate formulas for everything from a single loaf to a full production run. • Use multiple named flours and flour blends • View precise baker’s percentages for every ingredient • Set starter or preferment hydration • Track total dough weight and per-piece yield • Scale by percentage, flour weight, or target portion weight • Create custom recipe types and workflows • Mark ingredients and recipe steps as optional HANDS-FREE BAKING Follow recipes comfortably while your hands are busy. • Large, kitchen-friendly controls • Step timers with quick adjustments • Configurable stretch-and-fold schedules • Read instructions aloud • Use Siri to control an active bake • Add step-specific notes, observations, and photos PREFERMENT TRACKER Track sourdough starter, levain, poolish, and biga from feeding to readiness. • Log feeds and builds • See rising, peak, ready, and past-prime states • Use temperature-aware timing windows • Plan backward from the time you need your preferment • Track counter and refrigerated maintenance routines PANTRY & SHOPPING Prepare for every batch in one place. • Combine ingredients from planned bakes • Keep named flours separate • Mark ingredients you already have • Track purchased items for each Bake Day • Add manual shopping-list items • Share your list BAKE LOG & PROGRESS Keep a useful record of what happened and improve over time. • Log ratings, photos, notes, conditions, and observations • Record room and dough temperatures • Compare timing, hydration, fermentation, and results • Review recipe-specific learning across repeated bakes • See trends across your baking history BUILT FOR REAL BAKING • Works offline • Syncs supported data through iCloud • Backup and restore your recipes and bake history • Supports Celsius and Fahrenheit • Available in English, Spanish, German, and Turkish • Designed for iPhone, iPad, and Apple silicon Mac Whether you are preparing tomorrow’s first loaf or coordinating a full production day, The Dough Lab helps you bake with better organization, clearer timing, and less guesswork.

First Loaf — Your Sourdough Baking Companion Sourdough baking is part art, part science—and a whole lot of patience. First Loaf is designed to guide you through every step, from feeding your starter to pulling a golden, crackling loaf from the oven. Whether you're mixing your very first dough or chasing that perfect open crumb, First Loaf helps you bake with confidence and learn from every loaf. GUIDED BAKE EXPERIENCE Follow along with step-by-step timers for each phase of your bake: • Mix your dough with calculated hydration • Stretch & fold with perfectly timed intervals • Track bulk fermentation and final proof • Get notified when it's time for the next step No more watching the clock or second-guessing your timing. STARTER TRACKING Keep your sourdough starter happy and thriving: • Log feedings and track peak times • Set reminders so you never forget a feeding • Monitor multiple starters if you're adventurous SMART OUTCOME LOGGING After each bake, capture what happened: • Rate your loaf and log crumb, rise, and flavor • Tag specific outcomes like oven spring or proofing issues • Snap photos to document your progress • Record environmental conditions INSIGHTS THAT HELP YOU IMPROVE First Loaf learns from your bakes and surfaces patterns: • See which recipes consistently deliver great results • Discover correlations between your process and outcomes • Track your progress from novice to master baker The more you bake, the smarter your insights become. RECIPE MANAGEMENT Build and organize your sourdough recipes: • Use baker's percentages with automatic calculations • Configure flour blends and inclusions • Star your favorites for quick access • Filter by hydration, weight, and more COMMUNITY RECIPES Discover what other bakers are creating: • Browse community-shared recipes • Save recipes to try later • Share your own creations PLAN YOUR BAKES Schedule bakes around your life: • Plan ahead and receive step-by-step notifications • Time your bake to finish when you want it WORKS OFFLINE All core features work without an internet connection. Your data syncs to the cloud when you're online, so you never lose a bake. FIRST LOAF PREMIUM Unlock advanced features to take your baking further: • Recipe scaling with bulk calculations • Hydration-adjusted guidance • Full access to community recipes Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/