Sourdough Starter
Sourdough Starter
Master the art of sourdough with this simple and reliable starter recipe. With just flour, water, and a little patience, you'll soon have a vibrant and flavorful starter that will elevate your bread baking to new heights.
Ingredients:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup lukewarm water
Instructions:
Day 1: In a glass jars or a stainless steel container, combine the whole wheat flour and lukewarm water. Be sure the container is large enough to accommodate the starter as it grows. Stir well until the ingredients are fully combined, then cover loosely with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap. You may or may not see any activity within the first day. Let it sit at room temperature (about 70°F/21°C) for 24 hours.
Day 2: You may start to see some bubbles forming on the surface of your starter, indicating that fermentation has begun. Discard half of the starter (about 1/2 cup) and feed it with 1 cup of all-purpose flour and 1/2 cup of lukewarm water. Stir until smooth, cover loosely, and let it sit at room temperature for another 24 hours.
Days 3-7: Continue to discard half of the starter and feed it with 1 cup of all-purpose flour and 1/2 cup of lukewarm water once a day. By day 3 or 4, your starter should be more active, with bubbles forming and a slightly sour smell developing.
Using Your Starter: Your starter is ready to use when it's active, bubbly, and doubles in size within a few hours of feeding. Use it in your favorite sourdough bread recipes.
Maintenance: Once your starter is active and bubbly, you can use it in your favorite sourdough recipes or store it in the refrigerator. To maintain your starter, feed it with equal parts flour and water (e.g., 1 cup starter, 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup water) once a week or before using it in a recipe.
With this classic sourdough starter recipe, you'll be on your way to baking beautiful, artisanal breads that will impress family and friends alike.
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