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Sour Dough Starter Easy Recipe That Actually Works for Beginners

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An easy sourdough starter recipe for beginners made with just flour and water, using natural fermentation to create a strong, active starter for homemade sourdough bread.

  • Author: Catherine
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes per day
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 7 days
  • Yield: 1 sourdough starter
  • Category: Bread Starter
  • Method: Fermentation
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour
  • 1/4 cup room-temperature water (chlorine-free)

Instructions

  1. In a clean glass jar, mix the flour and water until no dry spots remain and the texture resembles thick pancake batter.
  2. Cover the jar loosely to allow airflow and leave it at room temperature for 24 hours.
  3. After 24 hours, discard half of the mixture and feed with fresh flour and water in the same ratio.
  4. Repeat the discard and feeding process daily for 5 to 7 days.
  5. Continue feeding until the starter becomes bubbly, doubles in size, and smells pleasantly tangy.
  6. Once active, use the starter for baking or store it according to your baking schedule.

Notes

  • Use whole wheat flour during the first few days to speed up fermentation.
  • If the starter smells unpleasant, increase feeding frequency.
  • A dark liquid on top (hooch) means the starter is hungry and needs feeding.
  • Discard is normal and helps maintain a healthy starter.