Do this ONE thing to improve your sourdough starter 400% right now! (2024)

FAQs

How do I make my sourdough starter better? ›

There is no single best ratio, but I've found a ratio of 1:5:5 fed twice daily at 12-hour intervals to produce a sourdough starter that's strong and healthy. This ratio corresponds to 20% ripe starter carryover, 100% water, and 100% flour (a mix of whole grain rye and white flour) at each feeding.

If you have 50g of starter in your jar, but you would like to have 200g of starter because you want to bake a few different things then you would need to add 100g of each flour and water to that starter to make 200g (because 200g divided by 2 is 100g).

Also, if your starter feels thin and when it is active it only produces very small bubbles, feed it some flour only for the next feed. Stir in enough flour to really thicken your starter up then cover it again and leave it to work.

Most commonly, the issue here has to do with temperature (which is very important). If your sourdough starter is kept at a low temp, even 70°F (21°C), it will slow fermentation activity and appear to be sluggish, taking longer to rise and progress through the typical signs of fermentation. The solution: keep it warm.

The easiest ways to increase the wild yeast colonies in your jar are to feed regularly and consistently, use whole grain flour, adjust the feeding ratio to slightly thicker, keep your sourdough starter warm and use unchlorinated water.

Flour with more protein and nutrients make sourdough starter more active, so consider feeding your starter with bread flour, whole wheat flour, rye flour (or a combination of these) to increase fermentation activity and rise. Thicken the starter (lower hydration ratio).

Part of what makes a starter rise and become bubbly is the yeast. Yeast will become dormant when kept in colder temperatures. If your house is particularly warm (or if you keep your starter in the fridge), it could be sluggish. Try keeping it somewhere warm.

All-purpose flour works great for feeding starter, but adding a little whole grain flour can help give it a boost if needed.

If your sourdough starter is really thick, then just add a little more water until it is the consistency of thick pancake batter. In the “How to Make Sourdough Starter” blog post, I give you the guideline of a 1:1 ratio of flour to water.

If your starter gets completely covered on top with bubbles but does not rise, it is healthy but may just be a wet mix. Try reducing the water in your next feeding and see if you have different results. Also, the type of flour you are using can impede the rise of your starter.

How do you fix a lazy sourdough starter? ›

In a nutshell, here are two ways to fix your sourdough starter when it won't rise: If your sourdough starter won't rise anymore, reset it by putting 25 grams of starter in a jar and feed it 50 grams of flour and 50 grams of water. With this ratio, your starter should double in size in about 12-24 hours.

It will look like a sticky, thick dough. Scrape down the sides and cover with a tea towel secured with a rubber band. Place the jar at room temperature for 24 hours, until you begin to see the mixture bubbling up. It is important that you stir the sourdough starter every day in the morning and in the evening.

If by “speed up”, you mean make it develop faster or get it activated quickly, use warm (lukewarm, not hot!) water when you feed it, feed it twice per day, and keep it at room temperature. If your house is cooler than 70 degrees, you might even consider wrapping it in a warm towel.

First, take it out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature. Then, feed it with equal parts flour and water (by weight) and let it sit at room temperature for a few hours. After that, it should be ready to use in your baking!

If it sinks to the bottom, the starter is presumably not ready, requiring further time and feedings before use in your sourdough recipes.

Begin by discarding all but 1/2 cup of the old starter. Then, feed the remaining starter with fresh flour and water. The feeding ratio should ideally be 1:1:1 (starter:flour:water). Leave the mixture at room temperature until it becomes bubbly and active, which usually takes about a day.

To revive the dried sourdough starter, add 50 grams to a clean jar with 100 grams of water and 100 grams of flour. Let sit for 24 hours at room temperature. The next day transfer 25 grams to a new jar and feed with 100 grams of water and 100 grams of flour. Feed the starter once a day until it starts to double in size.

No you do not have to stir sourdough starter before you use it. You measure the sourdough starter by weight, not volume, so stirring it or not makes absolutely no difference. What does "fed" sourdough starter mean? Fed sourdough starter refers to a starter that has been fed flour and water (preferably by weight).