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Easy Sourdough Starter Recipe

Homemade sourdough starter is just flour, water, and a little patience. Once it’s bubbly and active, you can use it for bread, pancakes, biscuits, pizza dough, and more.
Course: baking
Cuisine: American

Instructions

What You Need

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour or bread flour
  • 1/2 cup warm water
  • Glass jar or bowl
  • Spoon

Day 1

  • Mix:
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup warm water
  • Stir until no dry flour remains. It should look like thick pancake batter.
  • Cover loosely with a lid or towel and leave on the counter.

Day 2

  • You may or may not see bubbles. That’s normal.
  • Add:
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup warm water
  • Stir well.

Days 3–7

  • Each day:
  • Discard about half the starter.
  • Feed with:
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup warm water

By days 5–7, it should:

  • smell tangy and yeasty
  • have bubbles throughout
  • double in size after feeding
  • That means it’s ready to bake with.

How to Store

  • If baking often: keep on counter and feed daily.
  • If baking occasionally: refrigerate and feed once weekly.

Beginner Tips

  • A warm kitchen helps it grow faster.
  • If liquid forms on top, just stir it in or pour it off.
  • Don’t seal the jar tightly.
  • Bread flour usually gives stronger activity, but all-purpose works fine.

Simple Test

  • Drop a spoonful into water.
  • If it floats, it’s usually ready for bread.