Life Set Apart

How To Make Your Sourdough Starter 

Ingredients

1. Whole Wheat Flour
   • Note: Any flour can be used, but I have had the best success with whole wheat flour & I prefer the nutritional value of the whole wheat flour
2. Warm Water

Supplies

1. Wide Mouth Mason Jar
2. Measuring Cups
3. Potato Cloth, Coffee Filter, or Any Breathable Non-Stick Covering (Please use Whatever you have on hand!)
4. Rubber Band

Instructions

1. Combine ¾ Cup Flour & ½ Cup Warm Water in a Large, Wide Mouth Mason Jar. Stir Well.
2. Loosely cover
   • Note: I Choose To Use a Potato Towel or Cloth Dinner Napkin. Some other options I have tried that work well are a coffee filter with a rubber band, a tea towel, and Press and seal wrap.
3. Let Sit 24 Hours
4. 24 Hours Later, Discard Half the Starter & Store The Starter in the Fridge in Separate mason jar 
   • Note: Label Discard Mason Jar with “Discard & Today’s Date”
5. Repeat Step 1 – 4 the same time every day for 7 days.
   • Note: You can combine Each Day’s Discard and Place in the same mason jar in the fridge or you can keep them in separate jars, totally up to you! I have done it both ways.

After Repeating this process every day for 7 days, do a float test to see if your starter was successful or not!

If your sourdough was successful, start baking!

To Keep your sourdough starter going, keep a small amount remaining in the jar after every baking session and store it in the fridge. If you go a week without baking with it, make sure to take it out of the fridge and feed it every week (step 1 – 4) and return it to the fridge to use at a later time!

Sourdough Starter Questions

What Is A Sourdough Float Test?

A Float Test is where you place a small spoon full of starter in a glass cup of water. Wait a few seconds to a minute to see if your starter floats to the top. If your Sourdough starter floats to the top, you are ready to start baking your sourdough!

What if my Sourdough Starter Is Not Rising?

If your sourdough does not rise each day, busting out of the top of the jar, you may want to consider starter over, placing your sourdough in a warmer environment.

What If My Sourdough Starter Does not Pass The Float Test?

If your sourdough does not Float to the top on day 7, but rose each day you fed it, try baking with it! Your sourdough might still turn out. You may have had the water too warm or cold for it to float, or you may have put too large of a scoop of sourdough in the water for it to float. If the bread does not turn out, then you know the sourdough starter was a fail.

How Long Have You Had Your Sourdough Starter?

At this moment in time, I created my sourdough starter in March of 2024 and it has been going strong ever since! I have only had to make one starter. i try to feed my sourdough starter every week if I choose not to bake that week.

Can I Share my Sourdough Starter with A Friend or family member?

Yes! Feed your sourdough & Let it rise. Once it has risen for 12-24 hours, scoop some out and place in a separate mason jar to share Your Sourdough Starter with a friend or family member!

What If I Forget to Feed My Sourdough Starter Every Day for A Week?

If you miss a day, try feeding it the next day. If your sourdough starter rises, simply keep feeding it every day thereafter until you have fed it 7 times. Once your sourdough starter has been through 7 feedings and is still rising every day, try the float test to see if your sourdough was successful or not!

What Is A Sourdough Feeding?

Feeding Your Sourdough Simply means to add flour and water in the measurements referenced in step 1 above.

Why Is My Sourdough Starter Grey & Watery?

Unless you see mold, and you have been feeding it every day or every week, chances are your sourdough starter has not gone bad. Grey sourdough starter means Your Starter Is hungry. When your sourdough has gone a while without being fed, it often turns grey and has a water sitting on the top, creating a separation. Simply feed it according to step 1 above and make sure it rises, then return Your Sourdough Starter to the fridge or bake with it!

Claim To Unfame

I want to make it very clear that I am NOT a sourdough Starter expert. I am just a stay at Home Mom that received some very helpful sourdough making tips during a coffee date one morning, came home with an easy recipe, and successfully made one sourdough starter myself. I have had family try this exact recipe and it did not turn out possibly due to environmental temperatures, lack of feeding/forgetfulness, using a different kind of flour, or a variety of other reasons. I am not a professional sourdough starter, and I do not follow along with all the tips & tricks. I have kept my sourdough making process very simple & layed back. I do not stress the timing too much, and I do not have any fancy sourdough making supplies. I use what I have and have made a multitude of loaves from this recipe since that first initial try and wanted to share my love of an easy sourdough process with you all!