Full Recipe
Author
King Arthur Test Kitchen | 2015-01-20
Description
Whether it conjures up a crusty, flavorful loaf of bread or a bubbling crock of starter, sourdough is a treasured part of many bakers' kitchens. But where does the path to sourdough bread begin? Right in your own kitchen, with your own homemade sourdough starter. The method you'll read here for making your own sourdough starter has evolved over time to best serve home bakers' needs (for example, our recipe now includes the weight of ingredients first for better accuracy when measuring); making a sourdough starter is equal parts science and art, after all. Editor's note: This recipe was updated in February 2026 to create a smaller amount of starter in response to home bakers' feedback. If you'd like to make the original amount of starter (227g or 1 cup), see “tips,” below.
