Sourdough 101: The Absolute Beginner's Guide

If you're interested in baking sourdough bread and not sure where to start, this quick guide will get you up to speed on the basics. 

What is Sourdough?

Sourdough is bread that rises using a living culture instead of packets of commercial yeast. That culture creates natural leavening (rise) and also develops a complex, signature flavor over time.

What's the Difference Between Sourdough and Regular Yeast Bread?

Most bread uses store-bought yeast to rise fast for convenience. Sourdough uses only starter to rise more slowly, which builds more flavor, a more enjoyable texture, and improves the bread's digestibility.

What is a Sourdough Starter?

A starter is a small jar of living culture, which contains naturally occurring wild yeast and beneficial bacteria that make dough rise when you bake.

What Does it Mean to "Feed" a Starter?

Feeding means regularly adding fresh flour and water to your starter. That refreshes its food supply so it remains active and strong enough to raise your dough.

What Do I Need to Get Started?

I always recommend starting with the basics, then adding more tools over time. The absolute basics are:

• A sourdough starter
• One large glass jar with a solid lid
• Kitchen scale
• A large bowl and something to cover it with
• An oven and large baking sheet

My top recommended beginner add-ons:

• A round Dutch oven
• A banneton (rattan is a good inexpensive start)
• Bread lame

You can find more information on these items here: Recommended Tools

How Long Does Baking Sourdough Take?

A loaf of sourdough bread takes 1-2 days start to finish, but most of that is hands-off, waiting time that can be fit around your schedule.

Ready to Get Started?

The fastest path is using an established, mature sourdough starter. Our Superstarter™ is carefully crafted to get you from powder to bake-ready in as little as 3 days. Explore our kits here.

→Click here to continue onto our "Start Here" hub and learn the next steps.

Next: Where Should I Store my Sourdough Starter?