How to Keep Your Sourdough Starter Alive: A Simple Guide for Fresh Bread Anytime
Want to make delicious homemade sourdough bread but aren’t sure how to keep your starter alive? Don’t worry—it’s easier than you think! Whether you’re starting your own sourdough starter from scratch or have an existing one you want to keep going, feeding your starter properly is the key to creating amazing bread. I’ll walk you through how to keep your sourdough starter healthy and thriving with minimal effort, so you can bake fresh bread whenever you want.
Choose the Right Container
Begin by storing your starter in a tall, wide-mouth container. This makes it easy to feed and stir your starter without making a mess. A vented lid is also helpful, as it allows the starter to “breathe.”
Weigh Your Ingredients for Best Results
A $20 kitchen scale is a total game-changer for sourdough. Weighing ingredients (rather than measuring by volume) ensures accuracy and the best possible results in your baking.
This is the one I have and I love it: https://amzn.to/43riDnV
Keep a Manageable Amount of Starter
I typically keep about 150 grams of starter on hand. That way, I can use:
• 100 grams for my bread recipe
• 50 grams to feed the starter
This approach helps minimize waste while still leaving you enough starter for your next baking session.
How to Feed Your Starter
1. Measure out 50 grams of starter.
2. Add 50 grams of water.
3. Add 50 grams of flour.
4. Stir everything together until you have a smooth paste.
5. Cover the container with a lid (ventilated for air circulation).
6. Leave it in a warm spot to do its work.
Feed your starter daily, and within about four hours, it should double in size—indicating it’s ready to use for baking. It’s that easy!
Storing & Scaling Down
• Infrequent Baking: If you don’t bake often, keep your starter in the refrigerator for up to a month.
• Reduce Waste: Feel free to scale down the feeding process. You can use just a teaspoon of starter, water, and flour if you want to maintain a smaller amount.
Once you get the hang of it, feeding your sourdough starter becomes a quick and simple routine. Before you know it, you’ll have fresh, homemade sourdough bread ready to enjoy!
Happy Baking and Cooking!
Keep your sourdough starter thriving and explore more meal ideas on LoadedPotato.org. You’ll have everything you need to make your everyday cooking routine faster, easier, and more budget-friendly. Enjoy!