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Spoon lifting bubbly sourdough starter from a glass jar while feeding it.

How to Feed a Sourdough Starter

Learn how to feed and maintain a sourdough starter so it stays active, healthy, and ready to bake whenever you need it. This beginner-friendly guide covers feeding schedules, storage, refrigerator maintenance, and the signs your starter is ready for its next loaf.
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Resting Time: 6 hours
Total Time: 6 hours 5 minutes
Course: Other
Cuisine: All
Servings: 150 grams of fed starter
Author: Shilpa

Equipment

  • Digital kitchen scale
  • Wide-mouth glass jar (32 oz)
  • Silicone spatula

Ingredients

  • 50 g active sourdough starter
  • 50 g bread flour unbleached
  • 50 g filtered water

Instructions

  • Weigh the jar with the starter in it and discard down to 50 g, saving the discard in a separate jar in the fridge if you want to use it.
  • Add 50 g bread flour and 50 g filtered water. Stir until no dry flour remains and scrape down the sides.
  • Mark the level with a rubber band. Rest the lid on loosely.
  • Leave in a warm spot. The starter is at peak when it has doubled and the domed surface just begins to flatten, usually 4 to 8 hours.
  • Use it at peak, or feed again, or refrigerate it for the week.

Notes

  • Feeding schedule: once daily on the counter, twice daily above 78°F, once weekly in the fridge.
  • Ratios: 1:1:1 standard, 1:2:2 for a longer gap, 1:5:5 overnight. First number is starter, then flour, then water, all by weight.
  • To wake a fridge starter for baking, feed twice at 1:1:1, 8 to 12 hours apart, starting the day before you bake.
  • Keep a 20 g starter fed at 1:1:1 if you want much less discard.
  • Dark liquid on top means hungry, not spoiled. Fuzzy growth or pink or orange color means start over.

Nutrition

Calories: 2kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.3g | Protein: 0.05g | Fat: 0.01g | Saturated Fat: 0.001g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.002g | Sodium: 0.03mg | Potassium: 0.3mg | Fiber: 0.01g | Sugar: 0.001g | Vitamin A: 0.01IU | Calcium: 0.1mg | Iron: 0.003mg
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