Easy Sourdough Starter | Bread Baking for Beginners

Here is a step-by-step video following the Sourdough Starter Recipe from Bread Baking for Beginners by Bonnie Ohara! I also added a few tips and tricks that I’ve learned along the way! I hope this video is a helpful guide for viewers who are attempting to make a sourdough starter for the very first time. Once your sourdough starter is ready, you’ll be ready to make a delicious loaf of sourdough, all by yourself!

I highly encourage anyone who is looking to start making homemade bread to buy this book, and follow along with me, as I bake my way through this cookbook! 🙂

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// SOURDOUGH STARTER RECIPE

50 grams unbleached all-purpose flour
50 grams whole wheat flour
100 grams filtered water (between 80° – 90°)

MAKING YOUR STARTER:
Weigh your empty jar/bowl without the lid. Be sure to write down how much it weighs and put it somewhere safe 😉
Combine all of the ingredients in your jar/bowl
Stir until well combined
Cover loosely with a lid

FEEDING YOUR STARTER:
When bubbles appear on the surface of your starter, it’s time to feed it!
(Bubbles usually appear within the first 24-48 hours)
To feed, remove half of the starter from the jar, then add in 50 grams unbleached all purpose flour + 50 grams whole wheat flour + 100 grams of water (between 80° – 90°) to the remaining amount of starter in the jar.

You’ll continue to do this daily (typically every 24 hours) until your starter smells fruity, sour, and slightly sweet. This usually takes about 7 days, but can take longer, as mentioned in the video. When it’s ready, you’ll also start to see the starter rise within the first few hours after feeding it. This is a good sign, it means it’s likely ready to bake with!
The best time to add your starter to your bread recipe is when it is at peak activation, usually about 12 hours after it’s been fed. To test it’s activity, spoon a small amount of starter out of the jar, and drop it in a glass of warm water. If it floats, it’s good to go!! 🙂

// LINKS

Purchase “Bread Baking for Beginners” by Bonnie Ohara

Sourdough Discard Pancakes Recipe:
https://www.cooksillustrated.com/articles/2343-quarantinystarter-recipe-sourdough-discard-pancakes

Sourdough Discard Fried Chicken Recipe:
https://www.artisanbryan.com/post/recipe-sourdough-discard-battered-fried-chicken

Sourdough Discard Chocolate Chip Cookies