Sourdough Starter Recipe (Easy Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners)

A sourdough starter is a natural mixture of flour and water that captures wild yeast from the environment. This natural fermentation process is what allows bread to rise without using commercial yeast.

If you want to bake authentic homemade sourdough bread, the first step is creating a strong and active sourdough starter. This simple guide will show you exactly how to make a sourdough starter from scratch using just flour and water.

🧾 Ingredients

• ½ cup (60g) flour (whole wheat or all-purpose)
• ½ cup (120ml) filtered water (room temperature)

🫙 Equipment

• 1 clean glass jar
• Spoon (wooden or silicone)
• Loose cover (cloth or lid)

👣 Instructions

Day 1 – Create the Starter
 1. Add flour and water to a clean jar.
 2. Mix well until smooth with no dry spots.
 3. Cover loosely (do not seal tightly).
 4. Let it sit at room temperature (20–25°C / 68–77°F) for 24 hours.

Day 2 – First Feeding
 1. Check for bubbles (optional at this stage).
 2. Add:
• ½ cup (60g) flour
• ½ cup (120ml) water
 3. Mix well and cover loosely.
 4. Leave for another 24 hours.

Day 3 – Start Feeding Routine
 1. Discard half of the mixture.
 2. Add:
• ½ cup flour
• ½ cup water
 3. Mix until smooth.
 4. Cover and leave for 24 hours.

Day 4 to Day 6 – Strengthen the Starter

Repeat daily:
 1. Discard half
 2. Feed with equal parts flour and water
 3. Mix and cover

You will notice:
• More bubbles forming
• Slight sour smell
• The starter rising and falling

Day 7 – Starter is Ready

Your sourdough starter is ready when:
• It doubles in size within 4–6 hours after feeding
• It has a pleasant sour smell
• It is full of bubbles

🍞 How to Use Sourdough Starter

Take the amount needed for your recipe and always leave some starter in the jar to keep it alive.

🧊 How to Store Sourdough Starter

• Room temperature: feed daily
• Refrigerator: feed once per week

🔥 Tips for Best Results

• Use filtered water (avoid chlorine)
• Whole wheat flour helps activate faster
• If liquid forms on top, stir or discard it
• If it smells rotten, discard and start again

🫙 Sourdough Starter Jar & baking Kit (Important for Beginners)

To achieve the best results, using the right container and tools makes a big difference in the fermentation process.

A proper sourdough setup helps you:
• Monitor fermentation clearly
• Keep your starter healthy and stable
• Make feeding and maintenance easier

👉 For beginners, we recommend using a dedicated sourdough starter jar and baking kit designed for home bakers.

At Peelista, we offer baking tools and kits that help you start your sourdough journey the right way.