Feeding your live Sourdough Starter

Congratulations on your new starter! Your live sourdough starter is a moist ball of dough with a living culture of specialized yeast and bacteria, and reviving it is simpler and faster than reactivating a dried or dehydrated one. This is why we are offering live sourdough starter to our customers to give you that head start!

Spoon out the contents of the zip lock bag into a small bowl or the included mason jar, really any desired container. Some people use plastic but I personally prefer glass unless I am doing a large bulk bake, in which case the commercial plastic baking totes are definitely the way to go.  

You are going to start off by adding 100 grams of room temperature purified or spring water (well water works great) and 100 grams of organic bread flour (Organic Bread flour is included). Mix just until the flour and water are incorporated and you have a smooth consistency. (Don’t use tap water as most tap water contains chlorine which is not good for the yeast).

Cover loosely with plastic wrap or a cotton cloth jar cover and let sit at room temperature for about 8 – 12 hours. At this point you should see signs of life in the form of some bubbling and perhaps the starter rising a bit. If you are in a colder climate popping the mix into the turned off oven with the oven light on may help or using a bread warming mat. 

Now transfer your activated starter into your container with plenty of extra space for expansion in it's new home, stir in 50 grams of flour and 50 grams of water. Mark the level on the jar with a rubber band or using a marker.

Within about 12 hours you should have a lively, spongy starter. you should see it rising above your marker/rubber band. All that is left to do is build it up to the quantity you desire with once or twice daily feedings. With each feeding take out 100 grams of sourdough starter and add 100 grams of water and 100 grams of flour. Once you feel like your starter is nice and strong you can discard less and double the amounts if you are needing more sourdough starter. 

Enjoy your sourdough Starter and don't forget to send us photos or videos of your sourdough creations! 

- Masha of Mockingbird Homestead