How to Make Sourdough Starter From Scratch

5 from 2 votes

This is how to make sourdough starter from scratch with no yeast! With just all purpose flour and water you too can bake homemade sourdough yourself!

Prep Time1

Cook Time0

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: homemade, no yeast, sourdough starter

Servings:

Author: Justine

Day 1: Use a glass jar (I used an 16 oz. mason jar). Add 1/2 c unbleached all purpose flour + 1/3 c warm water and stir until combined.
Put a baggie over the lip of the jar. Put this in a warm place, it was winter time here so I put it into the oven with just the light on. If you do this put it on a baking sheet and in the corner furthest away from the oven light. It really likes warm, not just room temperature to work in 7 days. Let this sit for 24 hours.
Set an alarm for 24 hours for the next 3 days so you can "feed it".
Day 2: Remove the baggie, pour half of this mixture out into the sink. Measure 1/2 c flour +1/3 c warm water again into your jar. Stir to combine. Put baggie on top again and back into your warm spot for another 24 hours.
Day 3: Do the same thing as yesterday and back into your warm spot for another 24 hours.
Day 4: Do the same thing as day 1 and 2 EXCEPT you'll do this twice today. Once in the morning and once before bed. If it is really starting to rise in the jar you can transfer to a larger 32 oz. jar (if not already in this size).
Day 5: You're going to do this twice a day again.
Day 6: Do the same thing as day 5, removing 1/2 mixture and adding flour and water twice again today.
Day 7 it should be really bubbly, smelling sour now. If so your starter is ready, use this to bake your first loaf of sourdough bread!
If you think it needs to be a bit more "smelly" and bubbly, do the same day 6 on day 7 and bake on day 8.