How to Feed Your Sourdough Starter

How to Feed Your Sourdough Starter

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If you’ve made your own sourdough starter (or adopted one from a fellow baker), congratulations — you’re now the proud caretaker of a living, breathing culture! Think of your starter as your kitchen pet. It needs regular feeding, a little attention, and in return, it rewards you with beautiful, bubbly dough and loaves full of flavor.

Let’s go over how to care for and feed your sourdough starter so it stays happy, active, and ready to bake whenever you are.


What Exactly Is an Active Starter?

An active starter is one that’s strong, bubbly, and full of life. When you feed your starter with flour and water, the natural wild yeasts and friendly bacteria begin to eat, producing gas and acidity that make your dough rise and give it that delicious tang.

Here’s how to know when your starter is active and ready to use:

  • It’s doubled in size within 4–6 hours of feeding.
  • It has a light, airy texture with visible bubbles throughout.
  • It smells pleasantly yeasty and slightly tangy, not sour or harsh.
  • If you drop a small spoonful in water, it floats — that’s the classic “float test” to check readiness.

If your starter isn’t doing these things yet, don’t worry. It might just need a little extra feeding or warmth to perk up.

🥣 How to Feed Your Sourdough Starter

Feeding your starter is simple once you get into a rhythm. You’re basically giving it fresh food (flour and water) and removing some of the old starter so it doesn’t grow out of control.

Here’s a basic feeding routine:

  • Stir and discard:
    Start by stirring your starter, then discard about half of it (you can save this discard for pancakes, waffles, or crackers).
    This keeps your starter balanced and prevents it from overflowing.

  • Feed:
    Add equal parts (by weight) of flour and water to what remains in the jar.
    Example: 50g starter + 50g water + 50g flour.
    Use room-temperature water and your favorite flour (unbleached all-purpose or bread flour are both great).

  • Mix:
    Stir until smooth and no dry bits remain. The texture should be thick but stirrable, like pancake batter.

  • Cover and rest:
    Loosely cover your jar and leave it at room temperature until it bubbles and doubles in size — usually 4 to 8 hours depending on your home’s temperature.

    Store:
    If you bake every day, keep your starter at room temperature and feed it every 12–24 hours.

    If you bake once or twice a week, keep it in the refrigerator and feed it about once a week. When you’re ready to bake, take it out, feed it, and let it come back to life before using.

🌿 Tips to Keep Your Starter Happy

  • Use a clean jar: Always use a clean spoon and keep the sides of your jar wiped down to avoid unwanted growth.
  • Consistency is key: Feed around the same time each day if kept at room temp. Starters love routine!
  • Temperature matters: Starters are happiest around 70–78°F (21–25°C). Too cold, and they’ll slow down. Too hot, and they’ll get overly acidic.
  • Switch it up: Occasionally feeding with whole wheat or rye flour can boost activity — your starter loves a little variety.
  • Smell check: A healthy starter should smell yeasty, fruity, or slightly tangy — never like cheese, mold, or rotten food.

🥖 Bringing a Starter Back to Life

If your starter has been sitting in the fridge for a while and looks sluggish, grayish, or has a bit of liquid (“hooch”) on top — don’t panic!

Just pour off the hooch, give it a good stir, and feed it twice a day for a day or two. You’ll be amazed at how quickly it bounces back.

💛 The Magic of a Well-Fed Starter

Once you find your rhythm, your sourdough starter becomes a part of your kitchen rhythm — a quiet, living reminder that amazing things happen when you combine simple ingredients with a bit of care.

Whether you’re baking weekly loaves, crusty baguettes, or morning pancakes, a strong, active starter is your foundation for success.

🔗 Ready to Bake?

Grab my Classic Original Sourdough Bread Recipe here and check out my favorite Starter Jar & Sourdough Baking Essentials here to keep your starter thriving for years to come.

Check out my Sourdough Essentials HERE

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