How To Make A Strong and Healthy Sourdough Starter🍞

I finally did it!! I successfully made a strong and healthy sourdough starter! But let me tell you, it didn’t happen by just following the first recipe I found online. I had to tweak things along the way to make it work for me. If you’ve been struggling to get your sourdough starter active and bubbly, this guide is for you.

What You Need

½ cup whole wheat flour (I found this worked best!)
¼ cup filtered water (Avoid tap water with chlorine, as it can slow fermentation.)
A warm spot (This is key, more on that below.)

Step-by-Step Guide

Day 1: Mix and Wait

Combine ½ cup whole wheat flour with ¼ cup filtered water in a clean glass jar.
Stir well until fully combined. The texture should be like thick pancake batter.
Cover loosely with a lid or cloth to allow airflow.
Place in a warm spot (I kept mine in the oven with the light on).
Don’t do anything else, just let it sit for 24 hours.

Why Temperature Matters: If it’s too cold, the wild yeast won’t activate properly. You can also use a proofing box or a warming plate from Amazon, but I had success just using my oven light.

Day 2: No Feeding Yet

On the second day, leave it alone! At this point, you may see some bubbles or smell a slight tangy scent—that’s a good sign. If there’s no activity yet, don’t worry.

Days 3–4: Start Feeding & Discarding

Now, it’s time to begin regular feedings.

Discard half of the starter.
Add ½ cup whole wheat flour + ¼ cup filtered water back into the jar.
Stir well and return it to its warm spot.

Repeat this once a day. By day 4, you should start seeing bubbles and a slightly stronger smell.

Day 5: Increase to Two Feedings a Day

By now, my starter was active enough that I increased feedings to twice a day to strengthen it. I fed it at:

5 AM – Discard half, then feed with ½ cup flour + ¼ cup water.
5 PM – Repeat the process.

You don’t have to follow my exact schedule, choose times that work best for you!

Days 6–7: Look for Growth

By the end of the first week, your starter should double in size within 4-6 hours of feeding. That’s when you know it’s strong enough for baking! If it’s not quite there, keep feeding it daily until it reaches this stage.

Flour Variations

While I found the best success with whole wheat flour, you can experiment with:

Rye flour – Great for boosting fermentation.
Bread flour – Works well but may take longer to strengthen.

How to Know Your Starter is Ready

Your sourdough starter is ready when:✅ It doubles in size within 4-6 hours of feeding.✅ It smells slightly tangy but not rotten.✅ It passes the float test. Drop a spoonful into water. If it floats, it’s good to go!

Final Thoughts

Making a sourdough starter takes patience, but once you get it right, you’ll have a forever supply of natural yeast for baking. If you’ve struggled before, try this method and let me know how it works for you!