Simple Sourdough Starter
You do not need anything beyond flour and water to get started. Success here comes down to consistency and observing how the culture behaves in your specific kitchen environment.
Patience is your primary ingredient
The starter will smell pungent or sour during the first three days—this is normal. Do not discard it unless you see fuzzy mold, which is rare if you use clean equipment.
- glass quart jar
- digital kitchen scale
- silicone spatula
What goes in.
- 50gwhole wheat flour
- 50groom temperature water
Feeding by weight, not volume
Always use a scale. Flour density varies wildly by how it is scooped; weighing ensures your yeast colony remains at a constant hydration level.
The method.
Initial Mix
Combine 50g flour and 50g water in the jar. Stir until no dry streaks remain. Cover loosely with a lid or cloth and leave at room temperature for 24 hours.
The First Feeding
On day two, discard all but 50g of the mixture. Add 50g fresh all-purpose flour and 50g water. Stir, cover, and wait.
Maintenance
Repeat the discard and feeding process every 24 hours at the same time each day.
Monitoring Activity
By day five, you should see small bubbles and a faint yeasty scent. If it doubles in size within 6 hours of feeding, it is ready to bake.
Other turns to take.
Rye Start
Using dark rye flour for the first two days often accelerates the initial fermentation process due to the higher mineral content.
When it doesn't go to plan.
Use a rubber band around the jar at the level of the starter after feeding; it makes it easy to track exactly how much the starter has risen.
If your kitchen is cold, keep the jar near a light fixture or inside an unlit oven to encourage fermentation.
If you aren't baking daily, store the established starter in the refrigerator and feed it once a week.
The ones that keep coming up.
My starter has a dark liquid on top. What is it?
That is 'hooch', a sign that the starter is hungry. Pour it off, feed the starter, and move to a more frequent feeding schedule.
Can I use tap water?
Yes, provided it is drinkable. If your water has a very strong chlorine smell, let it sit in an open pitcher for an hour before using.
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