Sourdough Starter Series Part 2: Is your sourdough starter ready to bake with?

Firstly, let me congratulate you on your brand-new sourdough starter and for taking care of it! So now, how to tell if your starter is ready for baking?

Like most home bakers, you may have started your baking journey with sourdough bread. And what is sourdough bread without the perfect starter?

Making the starter as you know starts with a little water and some flour. This mixture when allowed to sit for a week or two will ferment and become home to a multitude of good bacteria that will do wonders for your sourdough bread.

Of course, during this two-week wait, you have to constantly “feed” the bacteria by adding more flour and water until it is ready to be used for baking.

So how can you tell if your starter is ready for use?

One popular method is the float test. Take a small amount of your starter, a teaspoon or so should suffice, and drop it in a glass of water.

If it floats then it is ready.

If it sinks, then it needs more time to develop and you have to continue feeding it.

Another way to tell if it is ready is to take note of the bubbles forming on your starter. More bubbles mean more bacteria. More bacteria means more flavor and texture. A clear liquid will be present on top of the mixture as well as a strong sour smell.

A third method of determining if your starter is ready is the volume test. If the volume of your starter doubles four hours after feeding it, then it is a sure sign that it is ready and you can bake several loaves with your starter.

Have fun baking!

There’s still more to talk about. So make sure to stay tuned for our Sourdough Starter Series Part 3!

Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @the_bread_story if you want to see scrumptious and inspiring sourdough bread baked by homebakers and professionals worldwide and more!