1. Home
  2. Food & Drink
  3. German Food

Homemade Sourdough Starter

By , About.com Guide

Making Sourdough from Scratch

Making Sourdough from Scratch

Jennifer McGavin
A true sourdough starter is flour and water which is exposed to the microorganisms in the air and in the flour, either outside or inside the house. It starts growing in 2-3 days.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 2 c. flour (white or whole wheat)
  • 1 1/2 c. unclorinated water (let water sit for 24 hours or use bottled)

Preparation:

Mix flour and water in a 2 quart bowl, stirring well to incorporate air. Cover with a layer of cheesecloth to keep the bugs out and place in a spot of your choosing, either inside or outside. Stir twice a day. When bubbles form in 2 or 3 days, start feeding your new culture.

Add 1 cup flour and 1/2 cup dechlorinated water and stir. Add a little more water, if necessary, to have the same consistency you started with.

Repeat feeding twice a day for several successive days. You may want to divide or throw away part of the culture. Keep at least 2 cups and feed with 1 cup flour and 1/2 cup water.

The starter is active when 1 to 2 inches of foam develop on the top within 12 hours of feeding. You may then refrigerate it.

If the starter begins to have any off-odors or mold growing on top, you will have to throw it out.

Feeding a culture

If you use part of the culture, feed it by adding 1 cup flour and 3/4 cup water to the left-over culture. Let it sit 1 hour at room temperature, then refrigerate.

If you do not use the culture, you should still feed it. If the culture is unrefrigerated, you must feed it once a day.
If the culture is refrigerated, feed it once a week. If you neglect it for several weeks, the culture might die.

User Reviews Write Review

Explore German Food

About.com Special Features

New Year, New You

Advice and how-to guides for making and keeping all your resolutions. More >

All-Star Football Food

Try these gameday recipes that are sure to please any fan. More >

  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink
  3. German Food
  4. Baking
  5. Make Your Own Sourdough Starter - Sourdough Culture>

©2010 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.