Sourdough Starter

Making your own sourdough starter is simple and rewarding. With just flour and water, you’ll create the foundation for delicious homemade sourdough bread. The process takes several days, but the result is a bubbly, active starter ready for baking!

Ingredients

• ½ cup whole wheat flour or unbleached all-purpose flour
• ¼–⅓ cup water (room temperature, around 75°F)
• 1 glass jar (about 32 ounces) or bowl
• 1 paper towel
• 1 rubber band

Instructions

Day 1: Starting the Process

• In your jar or bowl, mix ½ cup whole wheat flour with ¼ cup water. If needed, add more flour (up to ¼ cup) to achieve a pancake batter-like consistency.
• Stir well, cover with a paper towel, and secure it with a rubber band. Let it sit at room temperature for 24 hours, in a warm spot (avoid cool rooms, as they slow the starter’s development).

Day 2: First Feeding

• After 24 hours, check for bubbles. If you see some, add ½ cup all-purpose flour and ¼–⅓ cup water. Stir thoroughly.
• If there are no bubbles, simply stir and let it sit for another 24 hours.

Day 3: Second Feeding

• Check for bubbles again. If present, discard half of the starter, then add ½ cup all-purpose flour and ¼–⅓ cup water. Stir well and let sit for another 24 hours.

Day 4: Third Feeding

• Repeat the process: discard half of the starter and feed with ½ cup all-purpose flour and ¼ cup water. Let sit for 24 hours.

Day 5–6: Additional Feedings

• From Day 4 onwards, you can feed the starter twice daily if you plan to use it soon. Continue this routine until the starter is bubbly and doubles in size within 8 hours of feeding.
• At this point, you can store the starter in the fridge and feed it once a week. When ready to use it, pull it out 24 hours in advance, feed it, and allow it to warm up and grow.

Notes:

• Ideal water temperature for your starter is around 75°F. Make sure you use water that’s free of chlorine, as it can inhibit the starter’s growth.
• Keep your starter in a warm area, away from cold drafts, for best results.

Once your starter is bubbling and strong, you’ll have a healthy base for making delicious sourdough bread!

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Nutrition (per serving – based on 1/10th of the starter):

• Calories: 35 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 7g
• Protein: 1g
• Fat: 0g
• Sodium: 0mg
• Fiber: 1g