New sourdough robot promises zero effort feeds—but should you trust it?
In the latest kitchen tech twist, King Arthur Baking Company just dropped a bombshell that has the sourdough community buzzing. Enter the Sourdough Sidekick, a sleek little contraption that promises to feed your starter—so you don’t have to.
It’s co-created by FirstBuild and King Arthur Baking Company, adding some serious backing (and brains) to the design. The device officially launched via a kickstart campaign on Indiegogo on March 25, 2025.
Vanessa Schiffler posted about it in the Facebook group Sourdough for Beginners, and people had a lot to say. “What do we think about that? News from King Arthur Baking,” she wrote, alongside a screenshot from an email newsletter announcing the device.
Here’s what the announcement had to say:
“The Sourdough Sidekick feeds your starter – so you don’t have to! Just tell it how much starter you need and when, and it handles the rest!”
“Forget the constant feeding, the guilt of discarding, and the stress of keeping your starter alive. Instead, get happy, healthy starter that’s ready when you are.”
Naturally, the internet had some thoughts.
Some folks were ready to throw their money at the screen.
Caitlyn Bragan Root summed it up perfectly: “When you want all the fun and none of the responsibilities lol.” And Kali Grover didn’t miss a beat, calling it “a baby brezza but for starter 😂.” Honestly, not wrong.
Donna Wallace was all in—“Give it to me!”—and Jessica O’Daniel chimed in, “I’d love to try.”
One mom, Megan Bushey, even had a practical take:
“I think it would be great for if you’re going to be gone for a few days but want to use it as soon as you get home. Not a daily use product but could have its place.”
But then… came the traditionalists.
Devon Elizabeth spoke for many when she said, “Feeding is when you bond with it lol,” and Carrie Dorcey took it a step further: “Takes away the ‘soul’ of sourdough.”
For Caroline Santas, the device just felt joyless—“Where’s the fun in that?”
Joanna Rankin added a thoughtful perspective:
“Neat idea, but I love getting my hands in the dough and feeding my starter myself and learning how it behaves and what to expect from it.
I’m sure there are plenty of people who will appreciate a more hands-off approach and be able to bake sourdough without having to baby a starter.”
And then there were the skeptics. Olivia Ciccone Patricoff confessed, “I don’t trust it,” while Megan Lonsdale called it “ridiculous,” writing, “Just another plastic gadget for the kitchen.”
Jacquelyn Marlene didn’t hold back either, labeling it “Consumerist trash designed to remove us from our food.” Cindy Manning? “Hard pass.”
Others, like Jenny LaBolt raised a very valid point: “If you don’t discard… that will overflow QUICK”
So, what about discard? Turns out, King Arthur says in “Auto” mode, the Sourdough Sidekick builds your starter to the amount you need, with no discard required for up to a week.
And for those who like more control, choose “Custom” mode, and the Sidekick can replicate your preferred feeding schedule—even when you’re away.
So that kitchen counter overflow? Not happening—at least for a little while.
And Enna Yah, perhaps speaking for all of us moms just trying to survive the chaos, joked, “Probably get the same results as telling my kids to clean their room!”
The bottom line? Whether you’re a hands-on sourdough purist or just trying to bake without losing your starter (or your sanity), the Sourdough Sidekick has definitely stirred the pot—pun absolutely intended.
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