Start Here
Interested in sourdough but have no idea where to start?
I remember that feeling pretty vividly, which is why I created this page. Some of the resources are my own, and some are from sourdough bakers and experts I rely on for high-quality, trustworthy content.
First thing’s first: you need a sourdough starter.
Get Some Sourdough Starter
This may be an unpopular opinion, but I’m firmly in the why-waste-your-time-money-and-sanity-to-create-a-sourdough-starter camp. There’s no need to create a starter from scratch when you can get a little bit from a local baker.
I’ve seen too many stories of people wasting two months to no avail, mold growth after a week, bags of wasted flour… I’m just not interested in it.
I posted in a Facebook mom group for my city and
was shocked by the outpouring of people willing to give me some of their starter. So, that’s my top suggestion.
Next up would be to purchase some starter. This dehydrated starter named Eve is infamous for being robust and strong. And this live starter comes active – not dehydrated – so you can feed it and get going a bit sooner.
If you’re hell-bent on making it yourself, I suggest this recipe from Maurizio Leo.
Once you have a starter, you have to name it or it’s bad luck. If you have no clue what to name yours, I have almost 300 ideas here.
Get Some Basic Sourdough Starter Knowledge
Now that you have your starter, what in the world do you do with it? This video goes over the very basics so you can begin.
Get Basic Sourdough Equipment
You don’t need all the bells and whistles to make sourdough bread – check out this article for cheap ideas! But, some things are fairly essential.
Three things I want to highlight here are a kitchen scale, a jar for your starter, and a thermometer. Visit my artisan sourdough bread recipe for a full equipment list, plus some basic swaps using what you probably already have.
- Kitchen scale: my favorite scale is the OXO one, but you could get a cheap one like this one from Amazon. Bakers typically measure in grams, so a scale is the #1 most important tool to have.
- Sourdough starter jar: you can use a mason jar, but I really enjoy Weck jars. The 1/2 liter size is good if you plan to make 1 loaf at a time. The 1 liter tulip jar is a good size if you’re a 2-3 loafer (this is the most common jar used and what is photographed here). And if you’re a 4-5 loafer, this larger jar is ideal.
- Thermometer: Essential for sourdough success! Dough temperature tells you about how long your rise will take, and checking your bread’s internal temp (~205°F) ensures it’s fully baked. Plus, you’ll need one for the tangzhong technique. When troubleshooting goes wrong, dough temperature is always my first question. The Thermapen One is the gold standard and worth every penny. For a budget option, this thermometer works great, too.
Make Your First Artisan Loaf
The artisan sourdough loaf is pretty tricky to master, but it is so rewarding.
To make the process as easy as possible, I created an incredibly detailed guide here: The Best Foolproof White Sourdough Bread Recipe
Every step is described in detail, and I’m constantly coming back to it to improve it and add updates.
If you prefer video instruction, I have a step-by-step YouTube video that walks you through how to make a great loaf of artisan sourdough bread:
From here, you can start experimenting with different sourdough recipes.
One that I’m super excited about is this Sourdough Wonderbread Copycat Recipe, which is truly one of the most epic recipes I’ve ever developed!
You will make mistakes, and you will have loaves that leave much to be desired.
If you need a pep talk, I created that for you, and it includes lots of troubleshooting tips to get you back on track:
Most importantly, enjoy the journey. Even if your bread doesn’t turn out as “perfect” as you had in mind, remind yourself that YOU made it, it probably tastes amazing, and it’s nutritious. Happy baking!
