Levain

Feeding a sourdough starter is a simple process that involves discarding a portion of the starter and replacing it with fresh flour and water. This process helps to maintain the health of the starter and ensures that it is active and ready to use for baking.

If you need to figure out how much you should feed you starter to have enough for a specific recipe, use the Sterter feeding calculator for help.

Here are the steps involved in feeding a sourdough starter:

1. Discard: Remove about half of the starter from the jar. This will make room for the new flour and water.
2. Feed: Add an equal amount of flour and water to the starter. For example, if you discarded 1/2 cup of starter, add 1/2 cup of flour and 1/2 cup of water.
3. Stir: Stir the starter until the flour and water are fully incorporated.
4. Wait: Cover the jar loosely and let the starter sit at room temperature for several hours. The starter will be ready to use when it has doubled in size and is bubbly.
5. Repeat: Repeat this process every day or two to keep your starter active and healthy.

Tips for feeding a sourdough starter:

• Use unbleached flour.
• Do not use chlorinated water.
• Feed your starter at the same time each day.
• If you are not going to use your starter for a few days, you can store it in the refrigerator. Just be sure to feed it once a week.

With a little practice, you will be a pro at feeding your sourdough starter in no time!