Sourdough Starter

Sourdough Starter

no yeast required!

Recipe by
Reviewed by Arturs Arnicans
Prep Time: 120h
Cook Time: 0m
Total Time: 120h
Servings: 1
Difficulty: Easy
4.9 (17 Reviews)
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Ingredients

Adjust servings:

To feed the Sourdough Starter Daily

Nutritional Information

440
Calories
1g
Fat
92g
Carbohyrates
15g
Protein
0mg
Cholesterol
5mg
Sodium
Sourdough Starter

Recipe Description

Every time I log on to Instagram these days, it seems that Sourdough Starter is the one thing that everyone is making. I wanted to share my recipe if the mood takes you! I made a sourdough starter a few years ago and I’ve managed to keep it alive and fed ever since using the method I describe below!

It’s a super simple process, but it requires some diligence to keep it going. You could try setting an alarm if you’re worried you’ll forget to feed it! Start by mixing flour and water together in a jar and leave to rest at room temperature. Get into the habit of discarding and feeding daily. You won’t notice much change on day 2, but by the third day, you’ll probably see some activity like bubbling. A tangy, fruity aroma will start to develop and you should notice some evidence of expansion. Continue following the steps below until you are ready to start using the starter. Enjoy!

To make the Sourdough Starter, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for Sourdough Starter

Steps to make

  1. 1

    Combine the ingredients

    1 min
    Step 1 - Sourdough Starter

    Combine 1 cup of rye or whole wheat flour with ½ a cup of cool water in a large glass or jar. Stir the flour and water together so that there is no dry flour visible.

  2. 2

    Leave at room temperature

    24h
    Step 2 - Sourdough Starter

    Cover the starter loosely and leave to rest at room temperature in a warm place for 24 hours.

  3. 3

    Day 2: Discard half

    1 min
    Step 3 - Sourdough StarterStep 3 - Sourdough Starter

    Discard half of the starter (approx ½ a cup).

  4. 4

    Add flour and water

    2 min
    Step 4 - Sourdough StarterStep 4 - Sourdough Starter

    Add 1 scant cup of all-purpose flour and ½ a cup of water (warm or cool, depending on your house temperature). Stir the flour and water together so that the new ingredients are fully incorporated with the old.

  5. 5

    Leave at room temperature

    24h
    Step 5 - Sourdough Starter

    Cover the container loosely again and leave to rest at room temperature for 24 more hours.

  6. 6

    Day 3: increase to two feedings

    24h
    Step 6 - Sourdough StarterStep 6 - Sourdough StarterStep 6 - Sourdough Starter

    Feed the starter twice on Day 3, with about 12 hours between feeding. For each feed, weigh out ½ a cup of starter and discard the rest. Add 1 scant cup of all-purpose flour and ½ a cup of water. Stir and leave to rest before repeating.

  7. 7

    Day 4 & 5: repeat

    48h
    Step 7 - Sourdough Starter

    On Days 4 & 5, repeat the steps from Day 3.

  8. 8

    Check the starter

    Step 8 - Sourdough Starter

    The starter should have doubled in volume by the end of the 5th day. It should have lots of bubbles and there may be some little cracks on the surface, filled with smaller bubbles. The starter will have a tangy aroma. If your starter hasn't doubled in size and doesn’t have many bubbles, continue discarding and feeding every 12 hours for as long as it takes to create a risen and bubbly starter.

  9. 9

    Feed a final time

    8h
    Step 9 - Sourdough Starter

    Feed the starter for a final time, once it is ready to use. As before, discard all the starter except for ½ cup). Feed with 1 scant cup of all-purpose flour and ½ a cup of water. Leave to rest at room temperature for 6-8 hours until it is active, with bubbles breaking the surface.

  10. 10

    To use

    Step 10 - Sourdough Starter

    Remove the sourdough you need for your recipe, but make sure ½ a cup of starter remains. Transfer the remaining starter to a large jar. Feed with 1 scant cup of all-purpose flour and ½ a cup of water and leave to rest at room temperature for a few hours before transferring it to the refrigerator.

  11. 11

    Store

    Step 11 - Sourdough Starter

    Store the starter in the refrigerator, and feed it regularly with 1 scant cup of flour and 1/2 cup of water once a week.

This Sourdough Starter recipe requires a few days to get started, but you will be so happy you made it if you give it a try! I bet you can’t wait to start posting your sourdough instagram story updates - just remember to tag #CookMeRecipes if you do!

About the author

Lilly Mathuse

Lilly is an enthusiastic and cheerful young mom. She knows as well as any parent that children can be really picky when it comes to food. And she’s had plenty of experience trying to cook meals that are both tasty and nutritious, and able to satisfy the tastes of a fussy kid right away! To save you some precious time, Lilly's going to share with you all the tricks she learned the hard way, so you don’t have to! She has a wealth of recipes for quick and easy meals for kids and families on a budget.

Recipe Reviews

Have you made this recipe? Share your experience and help other cooks!

★★★★★
★★★★★
4.9 out of 5 (17 reviews)
Zachary Johnson
September 3, 2024
Verified

Amazing! I made this sourdough starter last week and now my whole family loves baking together. It’s so easy and the smell of fresh bread is incredible! Can’t wait to make more!

UniquelyElla
March 26, 2024
Verified

Wow, this sourdough starter is super awesome! My fam loved baking with it. Can't believe how easy it was to keep alive - thanks a ton for sharing!

Wendy
October 26, 2023
Verified

Awesome!

Ethan Smith
October 14, 2023
Verified

So easy, love!

Nikki82
September 2, 2023
Verified

OMG, this sourdough starter recipe is a total game changer! I tried makin' it after seeing all the hype on Insta, and I gotta say, it’s super easy! Just keep up with feedin’ and you’ll have the best bread ever! 🥖💖

Xavier
September 4, 2021
Verified

So lovely recipe

Annie
August 6, 2021
Verified

This sourdough starter recipe is so easy. My kids love helping me feed it every day. Thanks for sharing!

Lucas
July 12, 2021
Verified

Simply love it!

Cara Plescia
July 3, 2020
Verified

I came from the beginner guide for bread and now I see this there's literally a bunch of things that can be made from sourdough i'm shook.

Macey Babani
June 27, 2020
Verified

Cookme you are so unique and so is your staff i'm obsessed with all of Lillys recipes.

Madalynn Dreesen
June 27, 2020
Verified

Going to make sooo much stuff with this thanks again for the great recipe.

Emilee Didio
June 23, 2020
Verified

This takes a reallly long time to make so I think I'll stick with just buying bread after i try it once :(

Nathalie Kaczkowski
June 19, 2020
Verified

Sourdough starter? More sourdough that will change the way you eat forever!

Mercy Abramson
June 8, 2020
Verified

Wow easy peezy lemon squeezy gonna have a lot of fun with this.

Kadence Meher
June 6, 2020
Verified

Can't wait to get started on the crackers and the bread after i finish this.

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