Recipes Bread Yeast Bread Recipes Sourdough Bread Recipes Sourdough Starter 4.7 (286) 232 Reviews 64 Photos This recipe makes a sourdough starter using flour, clean water, and yeast. After fermentation has occurred, keep the starter in a covered glass container in the refrigerator until ready to use for making bread. Sourdough starters improve with age as you feed them — pass on any sourdough discards to friends and family! Submitted by Esther Nelson Updated on February 13, 2025 Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen The Allrecipes Test Kitchen staff are a team of culinary pros who make and vet recipes using only equipment you'd find in a home kitchen. Staff credentials vary but include training at the Culinary Institute of America; kitchen stints in fine dining restaurants; and countless hours in the test kitchen itself. Meet the Allrecipes Test Kitchen Save Rate Print Share Add Photo 64 64 64 64 Prep Time: 5 mins Additional Time: 4 days Total Time: 4 days 5 mins Servings: 15 Yield: 3 cups Jump to Nutrition Facts Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1x 2x 4x Oops! Something went wrong. Our team is working on it. This recipe was developed at its original yield. Ingredient amounts are automatically adjusted, but cooking times and steps remain unchanged. Note that not all recipes scale perfectly. Original recipe (1X) yields 15 servings 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast 2 cups warm water Directions Gather all ingredients. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Place flour into a large, non-metallic bowl. Sprinkle yeast over top, pour in warm water, and mix to combine. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Place the bowl on a cookie sheet; cover loosely and set in a warm place to ferment for 4 to 8 days. Depending on temperature and humidity, times may vary. The starter is ready when bubbly and pleasantly sour smelling. If it's colored at all (pink, orange, etc.), throw it out and start over. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Enjoy! Dotdash Meredith Cook’s Note To feed your starter: When you use any of the starter, always replace it with equal amounts of flour and water, along with an optional pinch of sugar. For instance, if you remove 1 cup starter, add 1 cup water and 1 cup flour to the remaining starter mixture. Mix until well combined and leave out on the counter until bubbly again before returning to the refrigerator.If a clear or light brown liquid accumulates on top of your refrigerated starter, don't worry. This is an alcohol-based liquid that occurs with fermentation. Just stir it back into the starter before using. Editor's Note: Use this starter to make Sourdough Bread or check out our Beginner's Guide to Making Sourdough Save Print I Made It 717 home cooks made it! Nutrition Facts (per serving) 62 Calories 0g Fat 13g Carbs 2g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 15 Calories 62 % Daily Value * Total Fat 0g 0% Sodium 2mg 0% Total Carbohydrate 13g 5% Dietary Fiber 1g 2% Protein 2g 4% Calcium 4mg 0% Iron 1mg 5% Potassium 28mg 1% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. ** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data. (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.