Genuine Sourdough Starter - No Commercial Yeast Added

 

Genuine Sourdough Starter


Most recipes I have found contain commercial yeast to make a sourdough starter.  I love to try to do things the old fashioned way if possible so I searched until I found this method in Carla Emery's "Encyclopedia of Country Living".

Sourdough is simply wild yeast that you've captured from the air around you.



1) Mix one cup of flour with one cup of water. 
Set, loosely covered in a warm place.

  

 


2) Check your starter daily.
In one to three days it should begin to bubble.

   


3) It will begin to have a sour yeast smell. 
It will also have a darker liquid separate. 
Don't be alarmed - just stir it back in.




4) Mix starter with 2 cups of warm water and 2 cups flour. 
Stir well.
This is your "sponge",
the beginning step to making your sourdough bread.




5) Loosely cover and
let sit in a warm place until bubbly.



6) Save one cup starter for your next batch of bread.

 



7) Cap starter loosely. I poke holes in a mason jar lid for ventilation.  Store in a cool location.  





















See my next posting for instructions to make sourdough bread.

Hope this helps!