How to Maintain a Sourdough Starter

Having a sourdough starter can be so much fun! But if you aren’t using and feeding it on a semi-daily basis, it can go bad. If you store it in the fridge, it can also be misjudged as “dead” or have gone bad. I am here to tell you that is not the case. It is beyond easy to maintain a sourdough starter in the fridge, and it’s hassle-free, you just have to know what you are looking for.

If you do not already have a sourdough starter, King Arthur Flour has a very comprehensive guild to make your own! (which is how I made mine) Or you can buy one, I recommend this one from Amazon.

My starter a day after I took it out of the fridge!

How to Maintain a Sourdough Starter

It is so easy to maintain a sourdough starter. I love baking with sourdough during the winter months!

First, remove your sourdough starter from the refrigerator and take off the lid.

Drain off the gray liquid on top or stir it in. This liquid is called hooch and it is the alcohol that is produced when the wild yeast ferments. It’s not a bad thing, but it does let you know that your starter is hungry and is ready to be fed!

Cover your starter with a clean tea towel and allow it to come to room temperature (about 3-4 hours)

Once your starter is at room temperature, you can choose to remove a portion of the starter and discard it or keep everything in the bowl and feed it.

Feed your starter, I like using 1 cup warm water, and 1 cup of unbleached flour.

Stir the flour and water in, cover with a NON-airtight lid (like a towel), and let to sit 8-12 hours (overnight works great for scheduling) before use. It should be nice and bubbly now.

Stir it once more before use. Optional to feed it once more before using it to ensure it is thoroughly activated!

Sourdough Tips & Tricks

Make sure the container you keep your sourdough in is NOT airtight unless you are storing it in the refridgerator
When your starter is on the counter, place a towel or something that is porous on the container to allow that collection of yeast and bacteria and for airflow.
When preserving your starter in the fridge, make sure you remove it, and activate it a day or two before you plan to use it, ensuring it can be proberly activated.
After removing it from the refridgerator, there can be excess liquid, dont be alarmed! It can be discarded in the sink or trash.