Homemade Sourdough Starter
Create a bubbly, active sourdough starter from scratch in just 7 days
By RecipesQueen Kitchen • June 10, 2026
A sourdough starter is a living culture of wild yeast and bacteria that gives sourdough bread its distinctive tangy flavor and chewy texture. Creating one from scratch is remarkably simple — just flour, water, and patience.
Over 7 days, you'll feed your starter daily, watching as wild yeast colonizes the mixture. By day 3-4, you'll see bubbles forming. By day 7, it should double in size within 4-6 hours of feeding — that's when it's ready to bake with.
Once established, your starter can live indefinitely with weekly feedings.
Ingredients
- 5 cups all-purpose flour (over 7 days)
- 5 cups filtered water, room temperature
Instructions
- 1
Day 1: Mix 1/2 cup flour and 1/4 cup water in a clean jar. Stir until smooth. Cover loosely and leave at room temperature.
- 2
Day 2: Discard half the starter. Add 1/2 cup flour and 1/4 cup water. Stir, cover, and wait.
- 3
Days 3-5: Repeat the discard-and-feed process daily. You should start seeing bubbles by day 3.
- 4
Days 6-7: Feed twice daily (every 12 hours). The starter should double in size within 4-6 hours.
- 5
Float test: Drop a spoonful of starter in water. If it floats, it's active and ready to bake.
- 6
Store in the fridge and feed once a week. Take out and feed 2-3 times before baking to reactivate.
