How to Make a Sourdough Starter in Five Days

sourdough starter in a glass jar with a white napkin

How to Make a Sourdough Starter in Five Days

A simple but essential recipe in every baker's kitchen! This is the ultimate guide to show you step-by-step on how to make your very own sourdough starter in just five days.

Course: Breads

Cuisine: French

Prep Time: 5

Total Time: 5

Servings: cups

Calories: 799kcal

Ingredients

Day 1

Clean glass jar
1 cup whole wheat flour
¾ cup water
1 Tablespoon barley malt or honey

Day 2

1 cup bread flour
¾ cup water
1 teaspoon barley malt or honey

Day 3

1 cup bread flour
¾ cup water

Day 4

2 cups bread flour
1½ cups water

Day 5

2 cups bread flour
1½ cups water

Instructions

Day 1:

Combine flour, water, and malt.
Cover jar with a loosely fitting lid or plastic wrap.
Set in a warm, draft free place for 24 hours.

Day 2:

Uncover jar and stir ingredients.
Stir in flour, water, and malt.
Cover jar again and set back in a warm, draft free place for 24 hours.

Day 3:

Uncover jar. There should be a little bubbling in the mixture.
Mix.
Stir in flour and water.
Cover jar again and set in a warm draft free place for 24 hours.

Day 4:

Uncover jar. There should be more bubbles, and the mixture should be starting to smell sweet.
Stir together.
Add flour and water and stir together.
Cover again and place in a warm, draft free place for 24 hours.

Day 5:

Uncover jar. Mixture should be bubbly and have a sweet aroma.
Stir together, then pour off half the mixture.
Add flour and water. Stir.
Cover again and place in refrigerator.

Notes

Healthy sourdough starter has a sweet, yeasty smell.
A new starter doesn't have as much sourdough flavor as an older starter!
Always use a glass container with a loose fitting lid to keep your starter in.
Sourdough does not react well to stainless steel!
Sourdough tastes different in different parts of the country, based on the type of yeast in the air. If you move and take your sourdough starter with you, the flavor will change based on the airborne yeast in your new location. Crazy, right?
You can use sourdough starter for a variety of recipes, not just bread!

Nutrition