Sourdough Starter

4.4
(313)
258 Reviews
66 Photos

This sourdough starter recipe with yeast, water, and flour is easy to make. After fermentation has occurred, keep the starter in a covered glass container in the refrigerator until ready to use. Sourdough starters improve with age — they used to be passed down from generation to generation!

Submitted by Esther Nelson
Updated on November 27, 2023
Tested by
Allrecipes Test Kitchen
Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen
The Allrecipes Test Kitchen staff are a team of culinary pros who make and vet recipes using only equipment you'd find in a home kitchen. Staff credentials vary but include training at the Culinary Institute of America; kitchen stints in fine dining restaurants; and countless hours in the test kitchen itself.
Meet the Allrecipes Test Kitchen
66
Close up on a jar of sourdough starter.
66
66
66
66
Prep Time:
5 mins
Additional Time:
4 days
Total Time:
4 days 5 mins
Servings:
15
Yield:
3 cups
Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast

  • 2 cups warm water

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    All ingredients gathered to make sourdough starter.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Place flour into a large, non-metallic bowl. Sprinkle yeast over top, pour in warm water, and mix to combine.

    Flour and yeast in a large bowl.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
    Water poured over top, mixing until well combined.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Place the bowl on a cookie sheet; cover loosely and set in a warm place to ferment for 4 to 8 days. Depending on temperature and humidity, times may vary. The starter is ready when bubbly and pleasantly sour smelling. If it's colored at all (pink, orange, etc.), throw it out and start over.

    Bowl placed on a cookie sheet, covered loosely to ferment.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Close up on a jar of sourdough starter.

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Recipe Tips

When you use any of the starter, always replace it with equal amounts of flour and water, along with an optional pinch of sugar. For instance, if you remove 1 cup starter, add 1 cup water and 1 cup flour to the remaining starter mixture. Mix until well combined and leave out on the counter until bubbly again before returning to the refrigerator.

If a clear or light brown liquid accumulates on top of your refrigerated starter, don't worry. This is an alcohol-based liquid that occurs with fermentation. Just stir it back into the starter before using.

Editor's Note:

Use this starter to make Sourdough Chocolate Cake.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

62 Calories
0g Fat
13g Carbs
2g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 15
Calories 62
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 0g 0%
Sodium 2mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 13g 5%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Protein 2g 4%
Calcium 4mg 0%
Iron 1mg 5%
Potassium 28mg 1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

You’ll Also Love

Card Placeholder Image
Sourdough Discard Bread
1 Rating
Sourdough Starter I
125 Ratings
Herman Sourdough Starter
52 Ratings
Card Placeholder Image
Honey Wheat Sourdough Bread with Quinoa
1 Rating
Herman Bread
40 Ratings
close-up of sliced sourdough bread
Mock Sourdough Bread
3 Ratings
Sourdough Starter II
77 Ratings
Rory's Guaranteed Rise Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls
18 Ratings
close up view of two loaves of Ekmek Turkish Bread on a wooden cutting board
Ekmek Turkish Bread
18 Ratings
The French Bread
29 Ratings
Sourdough Bread III
89 Ratings
Plain and Simple Sourdough Bread
222 Ratings
Sour dough bread
San Francisco Sourdough Bread
565 Ratings
Biga
9 Ratings
Gluten-Free Sourdough Sandwich Bread
1 Rating
looking down at a loaf of sourdough bread with a few pieces sliced
Chef John's Sourdough Bread
153 Ratings