What is a Sourdough Starter?
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When I first heard the term sourdough starter, I had no idea what it was or what it was for—I knew you needed it to make sourdough bread, but the whole process just felt mysterious. Looking it up online, only made it sound more confusing. Every blog had different instructions and it just sounded like you needed to be a seasoned baker to understand it. If you’ve ever felt that way too, I promise you’re not alone! But here’s the truth: a sourdough starter is simply a mixture of flour and water… that’s it. And once you understand how it works, it starts to feel a lot less intimidating—and a whole lot more doable for the average stay at home mom!
So, what is a sourdough starter, really?
It’s a natural leavening agent. Instead of using store-bought yeast (like those little packets you buy at the grocery store), a sourdough starter captures wild yeast and beneficial bacteria from the air and the flour itself. When you mix flour and water and let it sit out, those wild yeasts and bacteria start to eat the natural sugars in the flour. As they eat, they release gases—mainly carbon dioxide—which causes your bread to rise. This process is called fermentation.
Your starter is what gives sourdough its signature tangy flavor, those gorgeous bubbles in the crumb, and the kind of crusty loaf that makes you feel like a bread expert. ✨
But beyond the science, keeping a sourdough starter feels like a little rhythm in your kitchen—a daily or every-few-days check-in that connects you to the old ways of baking. You feed it, watch it grow, and then use it to make something nourishing for your family. It’s kind of like a pet you keep on your counter—except this one feeds you back.
What do you need to get started?
Here’s the best part: you don’t need fancy tools or special flour to get started. Just a jar, some flour, water, and a bit of patience. And once your starter is happy and active, you’ll be amazed at what you can make with it: soft sandwich bread, crusty artisan loaves, pancakes, waffles, crackers, cinnamon rolls… the list goes on.
Check out my amazon sourdough supply list here!
Check out this post if you are ready to get started with your starter! I explain here step-by-step how to start and maintain your sourdough starter!
Also, browse through my Sourdough Basics tab for lots of resources on Sourdough! I will continue to add to this section of my blog so keep checking back!
And if you already have a starter going, I’d love to hear how you named yours! (Yes, naming your starter is totally a thing, and I fully support it.)
Happy baking!
Xo, Emily
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