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SOURDOUGH

How to activate, maintain and use Sourdough!

Sourdough: Text

HOW TO ACTIVATE SOURDOUGH

You will Need:

Sourdough Packet

Non-Chlorinated Water

Bread Flour

Pint Glass Jar (or other container)

Breathable Lid (or other covering method)

About a week to activate starter

DAY 1 - Pour package contents into a glass jar with 2 TBS water - stir & let soak in.  Cover loosely (we love our fabric jar lids in the shop).  Let sit at room temp for 24hours


DAY 2 - Add 1 tablespoon of flour, 2 teaspoons of water, stir and let rest for 24 hours

DAY 3 - Stir Well & Discard (throw away) all but    ⅓ cup of the mixture (IF you have more than ⅓ cup... on this day there will likely only be that amount and no discard will be necessary.)

  • Add ⅓ cup Flour & 1/4 cup Water and stir 

  • Cover with breathable cover & let rest about 24hrs


DAY 4 - Stir Well & Discard (throw away) all but ⅓ cup of the mixture

  • Add 1/3 cup Flour & 1/4 cup Water and stir 

  • Cover with breathable cover & let rest about 24hrs

Repeat "Day 4" Instructions every day until bubbly (at least one week).


The starter now can be maintained and fed daily if kept at room temp or weekly (or even less frequently) if stored in the fridge (following bottom three steps) 


The discard can be used as the leaven in sourdough, breads, pizza dough… endless possibilities

Sourdough: Text

Activate Sourdough - Day 1

DAY 1 - Pour package contents into a glass jar with 2 TBS water - stir & let soak in.  Cover loosely (we love our fabric jar lids in the shop).  Let sit at room temp for 24hours

Sourdough: Video

Activate Sourdough - Day 2

DAY 2 - Add 1 tablespoon of flour, 2 teaspoons of water, stir and let rest for 24 hours

Sourdough: Video

Activate Sourdough - Day 3

DAY 3 - Stir Well & Discard (throw away) all but    ⅓ cup of the mixture (IF you have more than ⅓ cup... on this day there will likely only be that amount and no discard will be necessary.)

  • Add ⅓ cup Flour & 1/4 cup Water and stir 

  • Cover with breathable cover & let rest about 24hrs

Sourdough: Video

Activate Sourdough - Day 4

DAY 4 - Stir Well & Discard (throw away) all but ⅓ cup of the mixture

  • Add 1/3 cup Flour & 1/4 cup Water and stir 

  • Cover with breathable cover & let rest about 24hrs

Repeat "Day 4" Instructions every day until bubbly (at least one week).


The starter now can be maintained and fed daily if kept at room temp or weekly (or even less frequently) if stored in the fridge (following bottom three steps) 


The discard can be used as the leaven in sourdough, breads, pizza dough… endless possibilities

Sourdough: Video

BOOSTING SOURDOUGH

How to STRENGTHEN a Sourdough Starter

If a starter becomes less lively, bread is not rising well, or has been neglected a bit...

these are FOUR Ways to BOOST Your Sourdough

Sourdough: Text

BOOST Sourdough Part 1 - 

Feed your Starter SUPERFOOD!


Do a feeding with a high quality whole wheat or rye flour


Today I am using Giusto’s organic whole wheat high protein Bread Flour… I also love Central Milling Company Organic Hard Whole Wheat, Bob’s Red Mill Organic Stone Ground Dark Rye


My regular feeding routine is to use King Arthur Bread Flour… which I LOVE


but a periodic BOOST for your starter will keep it strong & performing beautifully


going through one or all of the steps to boost your starter is a great thing to do if

• you’ve been away

• your starter was a little neglected

• your starter isn’t performing well

Sourdough: Video

BOOST Sourdough Part 2 - 

Feed it again!


6-12 hours after your regular feeding time, feed it again! Just treat it like a regular feeding…


• Discard all but about 1/3 cup of starter

• add 1/3 cup flour and 1/4 cup water

• stir it up good

• cover with a breathable lid

Sourdough: Video

BOOST Sourdough Part 3 - Oxygen Boost!


An Oxygen Boost can be done between feedings or during a feeding - just whip-stir air into your starter!

I BOOST if I’ve been traveling, just got out of routine, or notice any lackluster growth when feeding


another time BOOSTING is SO GOOD is when you’re STARTING out


if creating your own new starter OR activating a dehydrated starter


OR (this happens to EVERYONE at some point)


the starter got completely forgotten… whoops!

Sourdough: Video

BOOST Sourdough Part 4 - 

Use Less Hydration!


the four ways to boost sourdough starter can be used any time a starter


• isn’t performing perfectly

• is NEW

• was a little neglected (feedings missed or lost in the back of the fridge)


save for reminder & reference… it’s a good thing to do periodically!

Sourdough: Video
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