How To Make A Sourdough Starter From Scratch • Tasty, by Tasty on YouTube. 8 min 56 s.
- Video length
- 8 min 56 s
- Time to do it
- 7 days
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Mix 50 g whole wheat or rye flour with 50 g lukewarm water in a clean jar. Stir until no dry flour remains.
Loosely cover the jar with a lid or cloth so air gets in but dust stays out. Leave it at room temperature, around 21 to 24 C.
Wait 24 hours. You may see a few bubbles and a slightly sour smell. That is normal.
Each day, scoop out half the starter and throw it away. Add 50 g flour and 50 g water and stir well.
Keep feeding once a day at the same time. Around day 3 to 5 it may look flat, then it should start rising after feeding.
Watch for the starter doubling in size a few hours after feeding. That is the sign it is active.
Switch to feeding twice a day once it rises reliably. Use 50 g starter, 50 g flour and 50 g water each time.
Use the starter in a bread recipe when it is bubbly and doubled. Feed what is left and store it in the fridge.
Tips and common mistakes
Use warm, not hot, water. Very hot water can kill the wild yeast you are trying to grow.
Keep the jar away from cold drafts and direct sun. A steady room temperature works best.
If a dark liquid forms on top, pour it off and feed more often. It usually means the starter is hungry.
Weigh the flour and water instead of using cups. Equal weights keep the starter consistent.
Questions
How long until the starter is ready to bake with?
Most starters take 5 to 10 days to become active. Wait until it doubles in size a few hours after feeding and smells pleasantly sour.
Can I use a different flour?
Yes. Whole wheat and rye start fastest, but plain white bread flour works too. Just keep the same flour for regular feeds.
Do I have to throw away half each day?
Yes, or the jar overflows and the starter gets too sour. You can keep the discard in the fridge for pancakes and other recipes.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
