Final Proof Time? | The Fresh Loaf

I started to make bread yesterday with a very active starter which I had fed about 6 hours before starting. I used 1 c. of the starter, 1 c. of water, 3 c. of flour and 1 tsp. salt. I mixed it then did 4 stretch and folds 45 min. apart. It then sat on the counter for about 2 hours and had nearly doubled. I did 1 more stretch and fold then covered it and stuck it in the fridge over night. I then took it out this morning and let it sit on the counter for about 3 hrs. Then I shaped it and covered it for it's final proofing. It's been about 3 hours now and it hasn't risen much. It's about 70 degrees in the house. My question is, did I ask my dough to rise too many times? Could it have run out of gas? Should I have shaped it before I refridgerated it?

I doubt it has 'run out of gas' but I suppose it is possible. More likely, it is just very cold and hasn't warmed up enough to start rising. I have had this same experience before and it seemed like it took all day to rise the loaves. Now I take my dough out of the fridge and pat it out into a large flat disc shape, covered, and it warms up much quicker. Then I shape it. Another thing I have done when I'm really in a hurry to get the dough warmed up is place the flattened blob of dough on a cookie sheet and then sit that on top of a large bowl of hot tap water, leaving a couple of inches clearance between the water and the sheet. After about 10 minutes or so I flip the dough over so the other side is on the bottom. Makes quick work of warming that dough up!

Well, another 2 hours have passed and it's finally starting to rise so I guess it's OK. But thanks for the tips I will certainly refer to them the next time.

I have had the same problem. Especially with sourdough starter. Sometimes the dough will continue to rise in the refer but usually not. It always takes at least 1-2 hours to start showing any activity after being put in room temp. I have found that floating the container in 80 degree water will speed up the warm up but I am careful not to over do it. Also the stretch and fold will help warm it up if you take your time and pause while it is sitting all stretched out on the counter for a few minutes.

Eric