WILD SOURDOUGH STARTER
You absolutely can purchase a starter over the interwebs, or, if you're lucky, acquire one from a family member or friend. But you don't actually need to: All you need is flour and water and, of course, yeast and bacteria, which are literally EVERYWHERE. There are a lot of different ways to do this, but this method has worked consistently in our test kitchen and builds a robust and flavorful starter.
Provided by Alton Brown
Time P8DT25m
Yield 250 grams
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- To begin: Mix together 125 grams flour and 125 grams water with a clean hand in a medium glass bowl. Cover the bowl with a tea towel and let sit undisturbed at room temperature until the mixture is full of bubbles and has nearly doubled in size, usually 2 to 3 days. During this time, yeasts and bacteria from the air and from the flour and probably from you will set up housekeeping in the bowl (see Cook's Note).
- For daily feeding: Peel back any crust that may have formed and transfer 20% of the culture (50 grams) to a clean, wide-mouthed jar. Stir in 100 grams flour and 100 grams water, loosely screw on the lid and stash at room temperature for 24 hours. (The culture will have a stinky-sour smell at this point.) Discard the rest of the original mixture.
- Repeat step 2 every 24 hours for 5 days. By then the culture should smell yeasty-sweet-sour, which means you're ready to put the starter to work.
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Jennifer Hoffman Costeira
[email protected]I'm fascinated by the fermentation process. This recipe is a great way to learn more about fermentation and how it can be used to make delicious food.
jionny Frazier
[email protected]I love the taste of sourdough bread. It's so hearty and flavorful. This recipe is a great way to make your own sourdough bread at home.
Robz Monsel
[email protected]I'm new to sourdough baking, and this recipe was a great place to start. It's easy to follow and the results are delicious.
Raza Ali
[email protected]I'm always looking for new ways to use my sourdough starter. I've made everything from pancakes to waffles to pizza crust with this starter, and they've all been delicious.
Mujeeb Lashari
[email protected]This recipe is a classic for a reason. It's simple, straightforward, and produces a delicious sourdough starter that can be used to make all sorts of delicious breads.
Bessy John
[email protected]I love that this recipe uses wild yeast from grapes or apples. It's a great way to use up extra produce from my garden.
Olaitan Omotolani
[email protected]I've been gluten-free for years, and I've really missed eating sourdough bread. This recipe has allowed me to enjoy sourdough bread again, without having to worry about getting sick.
Martin Mithika
[email protected]I'm a busy mom with three young kids, so I don't have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen. This recipe is perfect because it only takes a few minutes to make the starter, and then you can just let it sit on the counter until you're ready to use it.
william wilhite
[email protected]I love that this recipe uses wild yeast. It's a more sustainable way to make bread, and it also gives the bread a unique flavor that I really enjoy.
Phakama Phiri
[email protected]I'm always looking for ways to improve my health, and I believe that eating fermented foods like sourdough bread is a great way to do that. This recipe is a great jumping-off point for anyone who wants to start making their own sourdough starter.
Mirna Mendoza
[email protected]I've had a lot of fun experimenting with different ingredients in this recipe. I've added things like honey, molasses, and even dried fruit to my starter, and they've all turned out great.
Uptymyst
[email protected]I love that this recipe doesn't require any special equipment or ingredients. I can make it easily in my own kitchen, which is a huge time-saver.
Nadiya Dogar
[email protected]As a mom with kids who have gluten sensitivities, I was thrilled to find this recipe. My kids love the bread I make with this starter, and it's so much healthier than store-bought bread.
Raju Mirda
[email protected]I'm not a pro baker by any means, but this recipe was easy to follow and my starter turned out wonderfully. I'm so excited to start baking with it!
Junaid Awan Awan
[email protected]I've been using this recipe for years and it never fails me. I've made all different kinds of bread with this starter, from classic sourdough loaves to pizza crust, and they're all delicious.
Sean Knight
[email protected]I tried this recipe and it turned out fantastic! The sourdough starter was active and bubbly, and the bread that I made with it was the best I've ever tasted. I highly recommend this recipe.