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How to Make Sourdough Starter

February 25, 2015 by Missy Rakes 37 Comments

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Learn how to make sourdough starter for delicious and healthy homemade bread!

Sourdough Starter

 Before yeast was commercially available, people made sourdough bread by capturing wild yeasts from the air in a process called fermentation. Fermentation is gaining a lot of attention lately because of all the health benefits including making food more easily digestible, the presence of good bacteria (think yogurt), etc.

FUN FACT: Alaskan Prospectors used to carry sourdough starter with them because they didn’t know when they would be able to buy supplies.

I’ve been wanting to try my hand at fermentation and I decided that sourdough starter would be a good place to start. This recipe uses store-bought yeast, but you can find recipes using only flour and water if you are feeling adventurous.

How to Make Sourdough Starter:

Mix flour and yeast, then gradually beat in water until smooth. (It will expand so you may want to place a plate underneath just in case it bubbles over.)

Cover and store in warm, dry place for 4 days or until it smells sour.

Store in plastic airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.

TO KEEP STARTER: Once per week beat in 1 tbsp all-purpose flour and 1 tbsp warm water until smooth. Let stand overnight or until bubbly. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

TO REPLENISH STARTER: For each 1 1/3 cups of starter used, add 1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour and 1 1/3 cup warm water back in beating until smooth. Cover and let stand overnight or until bubbly. Refrigerate until ready to use.

I’ve since made a few loaves of sourdough bread using this recipe which were AMAZING. They didn’t taste as sour as I thought they would though.

Making sourdough starter is really easy and would make a great science experiment for kids.  Also, you can share your starter with a friend if you want, just remember to “feed” it every time you use it. I wonder how long I can keep mine alive…

Have you ever made sourdough starter or any other fermented food? If not, do you think you would ever try making your own sourdough starter? I’d love to know!

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Sourdough Starter in a mason jar.
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3.72 from 7 votes

How to Make Sourdough Starter

Homemade Sourdough Starter at home.
Prep Time5 mins
Active Time4 d
Total Time4 d 5 mins
Course: Bread
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Sourdough Starter
Cost: 3

Equipment

  • Mason Jar

Materials

  • 3 1/2 cups all-purpose four
  • 2 1/4 tsp or one package regular or quick active dry yeast
  • 2 cups warm water should be very warm, but not hot to the touch
  • 2 qt or larger non-metallic container I used a glass jar
  • cheesecloth or other breathable material to cover

Instructions

  • Mix flour and yeast, then gradually beat in water until smooth. (It will expand so you may want to place a plate underneath just in case it bubbles over.)
  • Cover and store in warm, dry place for 4 days or until it smells sour.
  • Store in plastic airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Notes

TO KEEP STARTER: Once per week beat in 1 tbsp all-purpose flour and 1 tbsp warm water until smooth. Let stand overnight or until bubbly. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
TO REPLENISH STARTER: For each 1 1/3 cups of starter used, add 1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour and 1 1/3 cup warm water back in beating until smooth. Cover and let stand overnight or until bubbly. Refrigerate until ready to use.

 

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Filed Under: Breads, Cooking Tips & Tricks, Easy Recipes, natural living, Natural Remedies & Recipes, Preserving Food

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  1. Rebecca N says

    February 25, 2015 at 10:43 am

    I attempted to make a sourdough starter last year, and after a week of our kitchen smelling like stinky feet I gave up and threw it all out. :-) Maybe I should have given it more time, but it was stinky! I will have to try this one with yeast as the starter. Thanks for sharing!
    Reply
    • Missy Rakes says

      February 25, 2015 at 12:33 pm

      Not sure stinky feet is the right smell. It should be yeasty and slightly sour, like sourdough bread.
      Reply
  2. Heaven says

    February 25, 2015 at 9:43 pm

    I've never tried this but it's something that has always been in the back of my mind. I enjoy your site. Following on g+ and bloglovin. This is pinned. Thanks!
    Reply
  3. Kim says

    February 25, 2015 at 10:33 pm

    love your blog! Can you use organic whole wheat flour instead of all purpose? Thanks! :)
    Reply
    • Missy Rakes says

      February 25, 2015 at 10:53 pm

      I've heard it could develop an "off" smell and taste, but you could always try!
      Reply
  4. Sandra says

    March 1, 2015 at 10:10 am

    This has been on my to do list-thanks for sharing at the HomeAcre Hop.
    Reply
  5. AdoringFamily says

    March 2, 2015 at 2:46 pm

    I have been wanting to start making more fermented foods as well. This is very helpful! We currently make kefir and sauerkraut.
    Reply
    • Missy Rakes says

      March 2, 2015 at 3:45 pm

      I've been wanting to make sauerkraut as well. I'm sure I'll get to it sometime soon!
      Reply
  6. kentuckylady717 says

    March 3, 2015 at 8:38 pm

    Hi, I used to have the starter yrs. ago, and I don't recall having to use yeast.....my sis-in-law gave me a starter and as she called it I had to feed it every week, I would add certain things to it, can't remember but I know it was not yeast....and I used to make the best rolls out of it...she would make cakes, I never tried that....do you know of something like this ????
    Reply
    • Missy Rakes says

      March 3, 2015 at 9:35 pm

      I used the yeast to get it going, but to keep it I add 1 tbsp warm water and 1 tbsp flour each week.
      Reply
      • Annetta says

        July 24, 2016 at 6:20 pm

        I use to make a friendship bread with it, but that was years ago and I can't remember anything that went in to it but cinnamon and sugar :( it was great all my friends did it to. We passed it around a lot.
        Reply
        • Missy Rakes says

          July 25, 2016 at 8:13 am

          Can you look on Pinterest? I've seen several friendship bread recipes over there.
          Reply
          • Kitty says

            September 15, 2016 at 3:34 pm

            Here is the first recipe to get your starter going: http://www.justapinch.com/recipe/stormy-stewart/amish-friendship-bread-starter/healthy-sweet-bread#.T1LX1PFnyQg.pinterest You use yeast to get it started but then only add milk, sugar, and flour to feed it. Somewhere I have a bunch of recipes you can make out of the starter as well as how to feed it only once so that you don't have to keep giving it away. I also stumbled upon this with is for a one time use but haven't tired it yet! http://www.redflycreations.com/2012/10/the-amazing-amish-cinnamon-bread.html
  7. Judy H. says

    March 30, 2015 at 6:45 am

    About the yeast- 2 1/4 what? I buy my yeast in the jar, not the packets. I guessing teaspoons? Thanks!
    Reply
    • Missy Rakes says

      March 30, 2015 at 7:42 am

      Sorry about that it's 2 1/4 tsp.
      Reply
  8. Lydia @ Thrifty Frugal Mom says

    March 30, 2015 at 8:13 pm

    I haven't made sourdough in years! A lady from church gave me some starter soon after we were married and I made it some then but with just the two of us, we didn't go through bread very fast and I eventually gave it up. Her recipe took potato flakes and as I recall, was a bit more complicated than this too. But we do love sourdough bread and I've been thinking of trying it again!
    Reply
  9. Amanda says

    June 14, 2015 at 4:15 pm

    I followed this recipe to a T & my starter has a hard crust on top. What did I do wrong, & can I still use this one or do I need to start over?
    Reply
    • Missy Rakes says

      June 15, 2015 at 10:24 am

      You may have used a jar that was too small and when it expanded it hit the cloth at the top and formed a crust. Mine did this too, but I removed it right away. I would remove the crust and see if your starter has a nice sour, yeasty smell to it. If not, I would throw it out and start over.
      Reply
  10. JoAnn says

    May 19, 2016 at 8:53 am

    Kept one for years and years as a kid growing up in Alaska.
    Reply
  11. Jean | DelightfulRepast.com says

    May 20, 2016 at 3:11 pm

    Missy, I came here from your 25 Old-Fashioned Recipes post. I'm an old hand at sourdough bread, made my starter from just flour and water (you can find the directions on my blog). I keep my starter in a half-pint jar in the refrigerator (no need to keep a huge quantity of it) and make sourdough bread twice a week. My husband is addicted to it. I figure even though I buy expensive organic flour I still save a few hundred dollars a year on bread. Your blog is lovely and I look forward to reading more.
    Reply
    • Missy Rakes says

      May 20, 2016 at 9:24 pm

      Thanks for the info! :)
      Reply
    • Billiejo says

      August 28, 2019 at 7:10 pm

      What do I mix with the starter yo have bread
      Reply
  12. Dianne w says

    May 25, 2016 at 6:20 am

    I use to make sour dough bread with the potatoes flakes. When you get tired of making bread or rolls make cinnamon & raisin bread or cinnamon rolls with pecans very good.
    Reply
  13. DONNA says

    May 25, 2016 at 8:32 pm

    I make sourdough bread at least once a week,, it's been a while since I made my starters but, I feed it 3 tbs of potato flakes, 3/4 cup sugar, and 1 cup warm water and leave over nite or 8 hrs, to ferment,, then I take a cup out and make bread and put the rest back in frig. I sell 6 loaves a week where my hubby works. I do use yeast in the cooler months to help it rise,,,love sourdough bread.. love your posts too....
    Reply
    • Missy Rakes says

      May 26, 2016 at 8:32 am

      Thanks for the tips!
      Reply
    • Shelby says

      April 18, 2020 at 12:32 pm

      I have been looking for this recipe for many years but could never find it could you send me a copy please my kids has been asking me to make it again . Think you so very much
      ★★★★★

      5 stars

      Reply
  14. Linda From Dallas says

    May 26, 2016 at 3:59 pm

    I have heard that you have to live at a certain sea level for it to really get sour. That it why it's so popular in San Francisco.
    Reply
    • Missy Rakes says

      May 27, 2016 at 12:37 pm

      Interesting. I've never heard of that before.
      Reply
  15. Virg says

    July 27, 2016 at 12:12 am

    Never done this. Okay so I made the starter and its in the frig ready to go. I use some of it, so I will need to replace with flour and water. Then it says to let it sit for a while then refrigerate. So the whole thing comes out of the refrig then goes back in afterwards?
    Reply
    • Missy Rakes says

      July 27, 2016 at 6:00 pm

      Yes.
      Reply
  16. Franceska says

    October 20, 2016 at 3:30 pm

    I'd LOVE to start this. Growing up, this was always going around. We all called in friendship bread as we always shared the starter. When we give a starter to someone else, how do we give a part to them to start but not lose any for us? Thank you and I agree with you about certain things are a lost art. It's up to us to learn it and share with our children so they keep it up!
    Reply
  17. Julie says

    August 7, 2017 at 11:27 am

    Can't wait to try this, but I don't see directions for baking the bread with it. Can you tell me how to bake it, please.
    Reply
    • Rachel says

      April 6, 2018 at 5:47 am

      As Julie says, there's no recipe for baking bread using your sour dough recipe. What are the directions for baking the bread?
      Reply
      • Missy Rakes says

        April 6, 2018 at 8:49 pm

        Unfortunately, I don't have a sourdough recipe posted, but you should be able to search Pinterest sorry.
        Reply
  18. Dianna Whitby says

    September 26, 2018 at 9:22 am

    I've been making my own bread since 2012, Rather than figure out where to store the starter, I make it fresh every 3 weeks and feed it twice a day for 3 to 4 days. My son and grandson love it. My nieces and nephew demand "Nana's Sourdough Rolls" at every family dinner
    Reply
  19. Sue says

    June 2, 2019 at 11:19 am

    I always have a sour dough starter ready
    Reply
  20. Kayla Bashore says

    March 16, 2023 at 10:14 am

    I tried this but my sourdough starter is very doughy is this normal? Not sure what I did wrong
    Reply

Welcome, I'm Missy and I'd love to help you cook from scratch, save money and live a more simple and abundant life. Click the buttons below to follow along on social media and get to know me better. Have a lovely day!

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