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Mastering the art of sourdough starter maintenance is the key to baking delicious, tangy, and perfectly risen sourdough bread at home. A sourdough starter is a living culture of wild yeast and beneficial bacteria that requires regular care and feeding to stay active, healthy, and ready for baking whenever you are.
Maintaining your sourdough starter means more than just mixing flour and water. It involves understanding the feeding schedule, hydration levels, temperature preferences, and how to recognize signs of a happy, thriving starter versus one that needs attention. With proper maintenance, your starter will develop complex flavors and leaven your bread naturally, without commercial yeast.
Daily or weekly feedings involve discarding part of the starter and replenishing it with fresh flour and water to keep the yeast fueled. The type of flour used—whether whole wheat, rye, or all-purpose—can influence the flavor and activity of your starter.