Sourdough starter recipes are a dime a dozen. I have tried so many versions over the years that I have lost track. Some were good, some were OK and some were just blah. To me, sourdough needs to have a particular tang to it. A good starter has a tart, sour, tang to it that's hard to explain — but once you taste it you'll never forget it.
This is my very favorite sourdough starter. You can use for biscuits, bread, pancakes, or anything else you use sourdough in.
There are three things that you must not change —
- Always start with rye flour.
- Always use non-chlorinated bottled spring water.
- Always keep it in a warm spot with cheesecloth over the top.
The cheesecloth allows the tiny wild yeast spores to fall into the slurry you are going to make with the water and the rye. The rye gives it something to eat. If you use white flour at this point the wild yeast won't have enough to eat. the spring water ensures that there is no chlorine to kill the good bacteria and yeast. You are going to commit to this starter for a week. You can't start your sourdough starter and then go out of town, OK?
You'll need a quart jar, a screw on ring but not a top. Remember, you're going to use the cheesecloth so the starter gets plenty of air. You might want to keep a small dish under the jar of starter. Mine almost always bubbles over and makes a mess. Many sourdough starters tell you to add yeast in the beginning. If you follow directions carefully you won't need to add yeast to the starter, it will become active — light and bubbly — on it's own. This is a great homeschool project — I've pulled science, history, cooking, and math out of this stuff!
Let's just work on the starter for today. I'll post my sourdough recipes next week so you'll have time to get your sourdough going.
Sourdough Starter
Print SaveIngredients
Day One
- 1 cup rye flour
- ½ cup springwater
Days Two through Seven
- 1 cup bread flour
- ½ cup spring water
Instructions
Day One
- Put the rye flour into a clean, sterile quart jar.
- Add the water and mix until all of the flour is incorporated.
- Place a cheesecloth square over the top and screw on the ring to hold it in place.
- Place in a warm spot.
Days Two through Four
- Remove ½ cup of the starter and throw he rest of it out.
- Pour it back into the jar.
- Add 1 cup of bread flour and ½ cup spring water and mix thoroughly.
- Replace the cheesecloth and ring and put in a warm place.
- By day three you should start to see some bubbles and activity.
Days Four through Seven
- Remove ½ cup of the starter and throw the rest of it out.
- Pour it back into the jar.
- Add 1 cup bread flour and ½ cup spring water. Do this TWICE a day, as close to 12 hours apart as possible.
- By day 7 your starter should have a pleasant, sour tang and double in size within 12 hours.
Maintain Your Starter
- Always keep ½ cup starter and make your bread with the rest. You can either keep it in the refrigerator or feed it (1 cup flour and ½ cup spring water) at lease once a day. It tends to keep better if you keep it out and feed it. You don't have to throw all of that starter away - if you happen to know other bread bakers feel free to share.
Notes
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Sandy R
Hey Mary, what kind of mixer do you use and where did you get it?
Also if you use all you starter for bread there’s not any left to keep the starter going? Did I miss something?
Marye
I have 2 - a kitchen aid for desserts and a bosch universal for bread. You use just one cup. https://www.restlesschipotle.com/no-knead-sourdough-bread/
Sandy
Thank you Mary I think it may be my mixer also not mixing well. . I have a kitchen axe 23 years old! You have a Bosch where do I get one?
S andy
Good morning Mary, my starter turned out great my question is if I don’t use it every week do I still take out 1/2 a cup and feed it or can I feed all of it?
Also I tried to make the sour dough bread twice and it didn’t rise my sponge came out great can you tell me what went wrong?
Marye
You need to remove half a cup always. It keeps it fresh. As far as the dough not rising - usually it's because the room is too cold OR you didn't give it long enough. Sour dough is finicky and it can take 4 hours or more for the first rise and sometimes that long for the second. Other possibilities are : water was too warm (keep it under 110F), you added too much salt, you added too much sugar...
Sandy
Thank you Mary I will do that.
Sandy
Sorry Mary, it’s not a liquid consistency it’s more solid. Hope I explained it. Better.
Marye
Let it go and see how it does. It should still rise and it may get more liquid as time passes. It sounds like maybe you didn't lightly scoop the flour into the cup when measuring?
Gail
Wow, I have made many of your recipes. I have been using Sourdough since the 80-s
I. H ave been looking at books and videos as I a m in love with the process...I kept thinking "ASK MARY"
I have become ill, but today is the day...you sent your usual blog info, but I am dealing with me, but passion is still sourdough.....I knew you would have - the starter for me-
I am so excited....starting your Sourdough Starter....Today-:)
Thank you for all you share. take care
Patricia G.
I was more ill than I knew because I didn't even get to read your s.d. starter that morning; I just opened your email and was so happy to see your s.d. info with starter directions. I just knew you had one. For so long I tried to buy your Bread book on Amazon but it never went through (fate) I guess as it was too soon..I am now where I needed most to find your info. Mary, I have a burning question and will email it to you.
I am sorry I didn't't contact you sooner for many reasons.
Thanks for all that you share with us your readers,
Regards,
Marye Audet
🙂 thank you
Marye Audet
If you are sure you used 1 cup of flour to 1/2 cup non-chlorinated spring water... and you are sure you measured the flour properly then I don't know. :/ You can use whole wheat flour for a starter if that is easier to find.
Bethany Egerton
I make bread often and have made a name amongst my friends for my french bread but I have never done sourdough even though it is truly my favorite. Coming from San Francisco I got spoiled on this stuff, but I have never been patient enough to stick with it. In reading your directions though I have one question, bare with my if this is a silly question. If, every day to only keep a half a cup of the stuff from the day before and keep doing this day after day how do you end up with enough to make bread when you need 3 cups of it to make one batch of bread and still need to keep enough for you starter? Am I missing something> As I said I have never done this before.
Thanks
Beckie E
Marye Audet
The last day you don't throw anything out. You use it. 🙂
Sandy
Hey Mary, I just started the sourdough starter I have a question is it suppose to be thick?
Marye
Well, thick can be hard to define. But it's kind of thick? like a batter.
Tami
I never throw the extra starter out. I keep it in the refrigerator and make pancakes with it. It isn't tangy and sourdoughy yet, but it is less wasteful. 🙂
Elaine
Do you feed your starter once a week 1 cup flour and 1/2 cup water or do you feed this amount once everyday on e it is established?
Marye Audet
Once it is established I just replenish it when I make breadd which is often, other wise I'd feed it maybe 3 times a week?