Comments on: How to Make a Sourdough Starter https://nourishandnestle.com/how-to-make-a-sourdough-starter/ Creative Living and Delicious Eating Sun, 04 May 2025 13:53:43 +0000 hourly 1 By: Lynn https://nourishandnestle.com/how-to-make-a-sourdough-starter/#comment-21895 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 17:57:43 +0000 https://nourishandnestle.com/?p=61731#comment-21895 In reply to Tina.

Hi Tina,

If you think you’d like to try a Sourdough Discard recipe, then definitely start a jar in your fridge and add to it when you discard. Otherwise, you can toss it away or compost it; I add it to our compost bin. If I understand your second question, you won’t get the benefit of the fermentation if you use the discard before the actual starter is ready.

If I didn’t answer your question correctly, get back to me!

Lynn

]]> By: Tina https://nourishandnestle.com/how-to-make-a-sourdough-starter/#comment-21894 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 15:16:34 +0000 https://nourishandnestle.com/?p=61731#comment-21894 Do you throw away the discard if you cannot use it right away or can you start a discard jar to use a few days later? And, can you use the discard within the predoubling days before the starter is ready?

]]> By: Lynn https://nourishandnestle.com/how-to-make-a-sourdough-starter/#comment-21873 Sun, 02 Feb 2025 11:19:03 +0000 https://nourishandnestle.com/?p=61731#comment-21873 In reply to Anne.

Hi Anne,

Please do keep me posted on your progress! Another idea to keep your starter warm is with a heating pad.

]]> By: Anne https://nourishandnestle.com/how-to-make-a-sourdough-starter/#comment-21868 Fri, 31 Jan 2025 22:10:45 +0000 https://nourishandnestle.com/?p=61731#comment-21868 Lynn, I have been meaning to give this a go for a couple years. Have everything and I will start today! Your guide is so very thorough….thank you so much for breaking it down! Just what I needed. I’m a bit concerned our cooler house temp may be an issue . I’ll try one of your suggestions if needed.

]]> By: Lynn https://nourishandnestle.com/how-to-make-a-sourdough-starter/#comment-21849 Wed, 22 Jan 2025 15:23:04 +0000 https://nourishandnestle.com/?p=61731#comment-21849 In reply to Susan.

Hi Susan,

I agreee, it is confusing at first! Let me see if I can help make it less confusing.

You do want your starter to be at room temperature and recently fed before you bake. What I typically do is feed it in the morning, leave it on the counter, and mix up dough late afternoon OR feed it right before bed, leave it on the counter, and mix dough when I wake up.

Have you been refrigerating it everyday? I only refrigerate if I can’t feed it each day, like when we are traveling or when I don’t plan to make bread. But, even in that case, I feed it once a week.

If you’ve been feeding it regularly, it is active, and you just put in fridge last night, I think you only need to feed it once before baking if yoou will be baking that day.

As it relates to the waste, yes, it can get wasteful. Of course there are quite a few discard recipes. But, what I typically do is keep only 10 g of starter and add water/flour in a 1:1 ratio to keep it going. I’ll ramp up the volume before I bake, as needed.

Following your questions, I went back in an updated/clarified some of the information. I also included a chart which may be helpful for you to determine the feeding ratios for your starter.

I hope I cleared up some of your questions and please don’t hesitate to reach out again.

Lynn

]]> By: Susan https://nourishandnestle.com/how-to-make-a-sourdough-starter/#comment-21847 Wed, 22 Jan 2025 12:44:01 +0000 https://nourishandnestle.com/?p=61731#comment-21847 I just completed making a starter which took close to three weeks. Last night I fed it and refrigerated. It’s so confusing—when I want to make bread do I have to pull it out of fridge and let it come up to room temp before I feed it to get it bubbly and ready to use? And then feed it three times over three days before I can bake? I’ve looked and googled and can’t seem to find a clear answer. Also, I do have to waste a lot. I can only eat so much and to use all the discard would be overwhelming. Thank you for any enlightenment!!

]]> By: Lynn https://nourishandnestle.com/how-to-make-a-sourdough-starter/#comment-21681 Fri, 25 Oct 2024 22:14:17 +0000 https://nourishandnestle.com/?p=61731#comment-21681 In reply to Leslie Williams.

yep! That’s it! I keep mine on the counter and remove all but 10g and add 50 g each of room temp water and flour.

Enjoy!

]]> By: Leslie Williams https://nourishandnestle.com/how-to-make-a-sourdough-starter/#comment-21680 Wed, 23 Oct 2024 19:29:42 +0000 https://nourishandnestle.com/?p=61731#comment-21680 5 stars
Just started mine two days ago with flour I milled from wheat berries! Quick question though, for the starter maintenance, you discard all but 10 grams and add 50 grams each of flour and water?

]]> By: Lynn https://nourishandnestle.com/how-to-make-a-sourdough-starter/#comment-21544 Thu, 01 Aug 2024 18:11:21 +0000 https://nourishandnestle.com/?p=61731#comment-21544 In reply to Eileen.

Hi Eileen,

Yippee! There are few more satisfying kitchen endeavors! This is my go-to Sourdough Loaf. And he gives great directions as well. Once you’ve experimented with bread, pop back over here for Focaccia, cracker, pizza dough and other yummy sourdough treats.

Happy Baking!

]]> By: Eileen https://nourishandnestle.com/how-to-make-a-sourdough-starter/#comment-21541 Tue, 30 Jul 2024 22:58:21 +0000 https://nourishandnestle.com/?p=61731#comment-21541 5 stars
I am so excited! Day 8 and bubbling up very nicely. This recipe gave great details and I live being able to pop back into the site and review the process. Thanks for making the recipe so easy to follow. I can’t wait to taste a bread made with the starter but couldn’t find a recipe on the site? Please share if you have a favorite. With appreciation!!

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