Learn how to make a sourdough starter from scratch with this easy recipe and start baking sourdough bread in no time!

All you need is flour, water and about one week to start baking bread with your very own sourdough starter.

Are you ready to bake the best homemade sourdough bread you'll ever taste?

Making healthy, sourdough bread for your family is easy and it's a skill that can be passed down for generations to come!

This straight forward, easy to follow method is perfect for anyone who wants to learn how to make bread with a sourdough starter.

Once you've got your sourdough starter going, you'll be able to make sourdough dinner rolls, sourdough bagels, sourdough pretzels and so much more!

Make sure to check out our sourdough glossary to get a better understanding of the terminology used in sourdough baking.

Jump to:

• What is a sourdough starter?
• Ingredients and tools needed
• Step by step instructions
• What to expect day by day
• How do I know when the sourdough starter is ready?
• Things to take note of
• How to maintain a sourdough starter
• Easy Sourdough Starter Recipe
• Frequently asked questions

What is a sourdough starter?

A sourdough starter is a mixture of flour and water that has captured wild yeast and bacteria from the surrounding environment.

The starter is then used to make sourdough bread rise as it bakes.

Sourdough bread is referred to as naturally leavened bread because it uses a portion of active sourdough starter instead of commercial yeast as it's leavening agent.

Here's how it works

Wild yeast and bacteria can be found on the surface of flour, in the air and even on your hands.

When you mix flour and water together and allow it to sit at room temperature, those yeasts and bacteria start to feed on the flour and multiply within the mixture.

The process of creating a sourdough starter is kind of like a science experiment. Think of the jar that you mix the flour and water in as a petri dish.

Throughout the process you're simply feeding the wild yeast and bacteria with flour and water so that they multiply over and over again.

Eventually, there are so many of these wild yeast and bacteria within the mixture, that the starter becomes strong enough to make the dough rise as it bakes. Pretty cool!

Ingredients and tools needed

Ingredients needed

• flour - You will need a mixture of unbleached all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour. The addition of whole wheat flour gives the starter a boost in the fermentation process so that your sourdough starter is ready as soon as possible. There are several other types of wheat flour that can be used to make a sourdough starter.
• water -Bottled water, filtered and most tap water can be used in your starter. To remove the chlorine from tap water by evaporation, fill a bottle with tap water and let it sit uncovered for 24 hours before using.

Tools needed

• container - A clear glass jar with straight edges makes it easy to see activity throughout the day. (I prefer to use a new jar every morning to keep things tidy. Dried sourdough starter is very hard to clean from the surface of the jar!)
• lid - The container should be loosely covered with a lid or thick piece of cloth to allow air to circulate in and out of the jar. I like to use a mason jar or Weck jars with their lid set loosely on top of the container. (affiliate links)
• spatula - An offset spatula or stiff spatula makes stirring a stiff batter easy. (affiliate links)
• kitchen scale or measuring cups and spoons - While making your starter, measuring cups and spoons work just fine. Because sourdough recipes are typically written with weighted measurements, once you start baking, it's wise to invest in a kitchen scale for best results.(affiliate link)
• rubber band - A rubber band placed around the jar will allow you to measure how much your starter is rising after each feeding.

Step by step instructions

Let's go over the steps needed to create and feed your starter as well as what you can expect to see from day to day throughout the process.

Before you begin mix 3 cups of whole wheat flour with 6 cups of all-purpose flour and keep it in an air-tight container. You will use this mixture to feed the starter throughout the process.

Day 1 (initial mix of flour and water)

1. In the morning, mix 1 cup of the flour mixture with ½ cup of water in a clean jar.
2. Cover the jar loosely and leave it in a warm area, 68-75°F (20-24°C) of your kitchen for 24 hours.

Day 2 (stir the mixture)

1. Use a spatula to stir the mixture to help incorporate some air.
2. Cover the container loosely and let the mixture rest for another 24 hours.

Days 3-7 (Start feeding twice a day)

First feeding in the morning:

1. Transfer 2 tablespoons of the starter to a new container.
2. To the new container ADD ½ cup of the flour mixture and ¼ cup of water. (The mixture will be very thick.)
3. Cover the jar loosely with a lid and allow the starter to rest in a warm spot in your kitchen, for 12 hours.

Second feeding in the evening:

1. ADD 2 tablespoons of the flour mixture and 2 teaspoons of water to the container of starter.
2. Give it a stir, cover loosely and allow it to rest at room temperature until the next morning when it's time for the next feeding.

NOTE: You will continue to feed the starter with this twice a day schedule, every day, until the sourdough starter is ready to bake with. This could take up to 14 days.

Measurements in grams:

For the initial mix:

• 1 cup of flour mixture = 120 grams
• ½ cup of water = 120 grams

For the morning feeding:

• 2 tablespoons starter = 30 grams
• ½ cup of flour = 60 grams
• ¼ cup of water = 60 grams

For the evening feeding:

• 2 tablespoons flour = 15 grams
• 2 teaspoons water = 10 grams

What to expect day by day

For the first two days you may or may not see a few bubbles on the surface of the starter.

On the morning of day 3, the starter will have risen slightly and have a few bubbles on top. It may even have a few blue spots on the surface which is completely normal. These are caused by gas from the yeast and bacteria.

On the morning of days 4 and 5 you should see bubbles and/or some liquid on the surface and the starter should appear to have risen slightly overnight and then fallen back down again.

Some people report that the starter appears to have NO activity on these two days but this is normal. Continue to feed your starter and you should see activity soon!

On the morning of days 6 and beyond, the starter should have a fluffy texture and be bubbly on the surface and sides of the jar.

How do I know when the sourdough starter is ready?

The best indicator that the sourdough starter is ready for baking is that it doubles in size 4-12 hours after a feeding for 2 or more consecutive feedings.

The texture should appear light and fluffy with plenty of bubbles on the surface and around the sides of the jar.

How to perform a float test

Another way to find out if your starter is ready, is to perform a "float test". When the starter has doubled in size, drop a tablespoon into a jar of room temperature water.

If it floats, it is a good indication it is ready to bake with. If it sinks, feed the starter for a few more days and try again.

Things to take note of

• The temperature of your kitchen will affect how long it takes for your starter to start rising. Yeast and bacteria multiply more rapidly in warmer environments.
• A kitchen temperature between 68°F (20°C) and 75°F (24°C) typically works well. In about a week you'll have an active starter to use in sourdough baking.
• If you are trying to build a sourdough starter in cooler months, the process can take a few days longer than it would in the warmer months. Repeat feedings for a minimum of 14 days before giving up.
• Use a rubber band to mark the level of the starter in the jar after each feeding. This will allow you to see how much the starter rises and falls over a 12 hour period.
• Any discarded sourdough starter can be collected in a separate container and stored in the fridge to use in sourdough discard recipes. Use it to bake sourdough banana bread, brownies and crackers so your discarded flour never goes to waste!
• You can use the same container throughout the week OR starting on day 3, you can transfer 2 tablespoons (30g) of starter to a new, clean jar every morning at the first feeding.

How to maintain a sourdough starter

Once you've got your sourdough starter going, head over to our complete guide on how to feed and maintain a sourdough starter. 

You'll learn how and when to feed your starter, how to maintain it and also how to backup your sourdough starter for future use!

Head on over to this easy sourdough bread recipe to make your first loaf!

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Frequently asked questions