Keeping Your Sourdough Starter Alive
A healthy starter should smell like mild yeast or sharp yogurt and show consistent bubbling. Once you establish a routine, the maintenance becomes less of a chore and more of a rhythmic habit.
Consistency is your best friend.
Your starter responds to the temperature of your kitchen and the type of flour you use. If you feed it at the same time daily, it will reward you with reliable strength.
- glass jar with a loose-fitting lid
- kitchen scale
- silicone spatula
What goes in.
- 50gmature starter
- 50gall-purpose or bread flour
- 50gfiltered water, room temperature
The 1:1:1 feeding
Maintaining equal parts starter, flour, and water ensures the yeast always has enough fuel to multiply without becoming overly acidic.
The method.
Discard the excess
Remove all but 50g of the mature starter from your jar. If you keep the discard, store it in a separate container in the fridge for other baking projects.
Add fresh fuel
Add the 50g of flour and 50g of water directly into the jar with the remaining starter.
Mix thoroughly
Stir until no dry streaks of flour remain. Scrape down the sides of the jar so you can clearly see the rise.
Rest and ferment
Cover loosely and leave it on the counter for 4 to 8 hours until it has doubled in size and looks aerated.
Other turns to take.
Refrigerator Storage
If you do not bake daily, place the jar in the fridge after feeding. This slows the metabolism, allowing you to feed it only once a week.
Whole Grain Boost
If the starter seems sluggish, replace half the white flour with whole rye or whole wheat flour for one or two feedings.
When it doesn't go to plan.
Use a rubber band around the outside of the jar to mark the level after feeding; it makes it easy to see if the starter has doubled.
If a layer of dark liquid—called hooch—forms on top, your starter is hungry; pour it off and feed immediately.
Filtered water is better than tap, as chlorine can inhibit the activity of the wild yeast.
The ones that keep coming up.
How do I know if my starter has gone bad?
A healthy starter should never have orange or pink streaks or fuzzy mold. If you see these, discard the entire batch and start over.
Does it need to be fed every single day?
Only if you keep it on the counter. If you move it to the refrigerator, it can sit for 5 to 7 days between feedings without issue.