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How to Make a Sourdough Starter

Jar of sourdough starter labeled Joey, ready to use for baking cranberry walnut bread.
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A simple day-by-day method for making a sourdough starter from scratch with flour and water. Use this as a starting point, then follow the 15-day log above to see how I adjusted along the way.

  • Author: George
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minute
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Category: Bread
  • Method: Fermentation
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • Flour
  • Water
  • Clean jar
  • Kitchen scale

Instructions

Create the Starter (Day 1 to Day 8)

  1. Day 1: Mix 50 g flour and 50 g water. Cover loosely and leave at room temperature for 24 hours.
  2. Day 2: Add 30 g flour and 30 g water. Leave at room temperature for 24 hours.
  3. Day 3: Add 30 g flour and 30 g water. Leave at room temperature for 24 hours.
  4. Day 4: Remove half. Add 30 g flour and 30 g water. Leave at room temperature for 24 hours.
  5. Day 5: Add 30 g flour and 30 g water. Leave at room temperature for 24 hours.
  6. Day 6: Remove half. Add 30 g flour and 30 g water. Leave at room temperature for 24 hours.
  7. Day 7: Add 30 g flour and 30 g water. Leave at room temperature for 24 hours.
  8. Day 8: Check if the starter is ready. Look for bubbles, steady growth, and a mild tangy smell. If not ready, repeat the cycle starting from Day 4 until activity becomes consistent.

Notes

  • The Day 1 to Day 8 method is from The Sourdough Whisperer and was the starting point I used to create my starter, Joey.
  • Every sourdough starter develops differently. Mine wasn't ready by Day 8 and took about 15 days to become consistently active.
  • If your starter isn’t ready by Day 8, continue the feeding cycle and watch for steady growth, plenty of bubbles, and a pleasant tangy smell rather than relying only on the number of days.
  • Be sure to read the full post above for my detailed 15-day sourdough starter log, including what I fed Joey, the changes in his growth, smell, and texture, the adjustments I made, and what I learned along the way.

Find it online: https://www.myeclecticbites.com/sourdough-starter-log/