Step-by-Step Guide to Starting Your Sourdough Starter

Day 1: Create the Foundation

• To begin, combine 10g of fresh milled flour with 10g of filtered water in your glass jar. Stir the mixture until it forms a thick, paste-like consistency. Cover the jar lightly, allowing air to circulate while keeping out dust and other particles. Place the jar in a warm spot in your kitchen, ideally around 70-75°F (21-24°C). Starting with a small amount of flour minimizes waste, especially since the process involves daily discarding of a portion of the starter.

Day 2: Feed the Starter

• On the second day, you may begin to see some bubbles or notice a slight rise in your starter. These are signs that the natural yeast and bacteria are beginning to activate. Discard half of the starter (about 10g) and add 10g of fresh milled flour and 10g of filtered water. Stir until smooth, cover lightly, and return the jar to its warm spot. This daily feeding routine is essential to developing the strength and vigor of your starter.

Days 3-7: Continue Feeding and Observe the Changes

• Each day, discard all but 10g of the starter and feed it with 10g of fresh milled flour and 10g of filtered water. As the days progress, you’ll notice the starter becoming more active, with increased bubbling and a tangy aroma developing. The smell of the starter will change over time, often starting mildly sweet and evolving into a more sour and complex scent as the wild yeast and bacteria establish themselves. Continue this process daily to build up the strength of your starter.

Day 8: Your Starter is Ready to Use

• By around day 8, your starter should be bubbly, active, and ready to use in baking. A well-developed starter will double in size within 4-6 hours of feeding for at least 3 days in a row, indicating it's strong enough to leaven your dough. If you’re not planning to bake immediately, you can store your starter in the refrigerator and feed it once a week to keep it alive. At this stage, your starter has become a reliable leavening agent that can be used to create delicious sourdough bread with a unique flavor profile.