This is your ultimate guide to sourdough starter and becoming a super healthy sourdough baker extraordinaire!
Sourdough can seem like a daunting baking challenge, but I’m writing this guide to show you how easy it is.
I will explain what sourdough is, how it works, and how to make it work for you. If you ever feel intimidated during the sourdough process just remember that up until less than two hundred years ago, all leavened bread was made traditionally with wild yeast and bacteria (sourdough)!
My sourdough is my pride and joy. I bake with it at least once a week and it’s become a part of my family and part of my history and evolution as a chef.
I’ve recently made a commitment to only eat soaked and fermented grains for the rest of my life.
I know, that’s a big commitment!
What that means is that I now make my own breads, crackers, pancakes, waffles, biscuits, muffins, tortillas, pasta, pastry crust, cookies, cakes, English muffins, and quickbreads all with my trusty and very happy mother starter.
It is my mission to transform every recipe that uses wheat flour into a sourdough recipe.
You can see all of my sourdough recipes here.
Beautiful Sourdough Baked Goods
Copyright Butter For All
Sarah
Sunday 7th of August 2022
Hi Courtney!
I’m very new to the sourdough world and am doing some reading before I fully commit. With your starter recipe, what size of glass container do you use? Some have said it can more than double in size... I want to have a big enough jar but not too big... Also, would a plastics twist lid work? I’m thinking it would breathe very well?
Thanks for being such a thorough sourdough resource for this newbie!
Butter For All
Thursday 11th of August 2022
Hi Sarah!
Welcome! Typically I use a quart jar or larger. I like to have lots of starter on hand for many baking projects. But it really depends on how much you want to keep. You can always switch containers if you need to make more or less. You are right, a plastic screw on ball jar lid works great! I also like locking lid jars with the seal removed. You'll have to keep me posted on your progress!!
Happy Baking,
Courtney
Annie
Saturday 21st of May 2022
Hi Courtney! Thank you for explaining all this. Is there a place where I can just buy this same sourdough-type bread from instead of making it myself??? I get a very inflamed joint when I eat gluten-containing bread, so I'm hoping this sourdough will fix the problem.
Thank you, Annie
Butter For All
Friday 3rd of June 2022
Hi Annie!
Do you have any local sourdough bakeries? Many times store bought sourdough will be soured with vinegar. But a lot of traditional bakeries still produce long-fermented bread. I'm happy to help you locate something if you provide me with your location!
Courtney
Ellen
Friday 18th of February 2022
Hello again! Can purchased sprouted wheat (lindley mills) be used in 1. Starting a starter and/or 2. Feeding the starter.
Thank you.
I love your site! Ellen
Ellen
Monday 21st of February 2022
@Butter For All,
Hi Courtney! Thank you for your reply.
I completely understand what you are saying.
I have been very impressed with your quick responses.
Thank you!
Butter For All
Monday 21st of February 2022
Hi Ellen!
Thanks for the kind words!
So sprouted wheat can be used in the entire sourdough process BUT it doesn't make any gluten structure so the bread will be very dense. It is best to use a combination of bread flour and sprouted flour if you want the bread to rise and have the flavor of the whole wheat. Because it's rather expensive, I personally use sprouted wheat for quick bread, cookies, and pastry. Things where it wouldn't be appropriate or are too difficult to ferment. I let the fermentation process take care of the un-sprouted flour in my bread recipes. Hope that makes sense!
Hope you have a wonderful sourdough journey!
Courtney
Ila Kaiser
Sunday 5th of December 2021
I am diabetic and wondering how to calculate the carbs and fiber for the sourdough breads. Can you help?
Butter For All
Sunday 12th of December 2021
Hi Ila,
So, unfortunately there is no definite way to calculate carbs for sourdough. The longer the bread ferments, the less carbs it has. As the yeast and bacteria eat up sugars the bread gets more sour. So a really sour sourdough, that has been fermented for 24+ hours will be the best for you. I would personally eat a small amount and then test blood sugar to see how the long-fermented bread affects you.
I hope this is a little help! Take good care!
Courtney
Donna
Monday 15th of November 2021
I’m on day 5 of my rye starter. Day 2 it almost doubled in size! Day 3 almost no activity. Day 4 it hasn’t risen but I can see a few bubbles! Is this normal? Should I continue to do the daily feedings or is this batch a lost cause? Thanks
Butter For All
Monday 22nd of November 2021
Hi Donna!
Don't toss it! This is totally normal. At first the yeast go crazy, then they mellow out as the bacteria get going, over the next few weeks they will balance out and harmonize into a lovely starter! Hope I caught this comment in time!
Best,
Courtney