home Our story history online shop our flours recipes stockists contact Previous Next How To Make A Sourdough Starter There are many different ways to start your sourdough starter (Mother dough). People use all different types of fruits, yogurts & other grains like barley. For this starter we will use apple. Day 1 – 10 mins Grate 1 apple, then squeeze the juice out by pushing it through a sieve with the back of a spoon Add the same amount of water as you have juice. Weigh this and add the same weight of flour. You can use white or wholemeal flour Mix together and leave in an airtight container at room temperature/ warm-ish place (or bowl with clingflim on top) Day 2 – 5 mins Add 50g flour and 25ml of water to the container and mix it all together When doubled in size – approx. 12 hours later Add 50g flour and 25ml of water to the container and mix it all together Day 3 – 5 mins Add 50g flour and 25ml of water to the container and mix it all together When doubled in size – approx. 10 hours later Add 50g flour and 25ml of water to the container and mix it all together Day 4 – 5 mins Add 50g flour and 25ml of water to the container and mix it all together When doubled in size – approx. 8 hours later Add 50g flour and 25ml of water to the container and mix it all together Day 5– 5 mins Add 50g flour and 25ml of water to the container and mix it all together When doubled in size – approx. 6 hours later Add 50g flour and 25ml of water to the container and mix it all together Day 6 – 5 mins Add 50g flour and 25ml of water to the container and mix it all together When doubled in size – approx. 4 hours later Add 50g flour and 25ml of water to the container and mix it all together Day 6 or 7 Once the Starter starts doubling in size every 3 – 4 hours you are ready to bake! Once you have reached this stage, you can keep your container in a fridge and feed the starter just once a week To start baking from a Starter you have kept in the fridge, 2 days before you want your loaves, take out 75g of your Starter and discard (this prevents the Starter from becoming too acidic). Add back in 50g of flour and 25ml of water, which will reactivate the Starter How To Make Sourdough Using Your Starter Day 1 – 10 mins Take 75g of your Starter Add 125g flour (white or wholemeal) Add 125g water Mix together Leave to rest in a bowl covered in cling film/ damp tea towel This is now called your ‘Sourdough’ (Also, refeed your starter with 50g flour and 25ml water to replace what has been taken out) Day 2 (or once the dough has doubled in size so could be earlier) Add to your ‘Sourdough’ above 500g of flour 10g salt 310g water Put all the above ingredients into a mixer with a dough hook and knead for 4 minutes slow, 6 minutes fast (Depending on mixer) You want a good elasticity at this stage (the dough will be very wet and sticky which is typical for a sourdough). Once the dough is mixed, place in a container and leave at room temperature for 2 to 5 hours or until doubled in size. Divide up your dough to your desired loaf weights and try not to knock any air out. Mould round gently and give it a 5 minute rest. After the rest, mould the dough gently to a boule shape and place in either flour dusted proofing baskets (or a bowl with a tea towel lining it, flour dusted on top) with the seam from your moulding facing up rather than down. Cover with cling film/damp tea towel and give the dough a 30 minute rest The bread can now be baked. (although for real pro results place in the fridge to be baked the next day) Remove the dough from the proofing baskets or bowl and place on a baking tray with the seam down. Score the top of the dough putting on your signature cut. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes at 220C Conventional oven, 200C Fan oven or Gas mark 7 gas oven. Hopefully you now have a delicious Sourdough to devour! Good to know… • The wetter the dough the more air pockets • The temperature of the water & flour play a big part in fermentation • The wetter the mother dough the more acidic the flavour • The stiffer the mother dough the better fermentation • The ambient temperature will affect fermentation time Tips… • Wet your hands to easily manage the sticky dough in the mixer • You can add more Starter to stage 2 to speed up fermentation and give a more acidic product Share This Recipe, Choose Your Platform! Facebook Twitter Reddit LinkedIn WhatsApp Tumblr Pinterest Vk Email Leave A Comment Comment Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. GET IN TOUCH Albion Flour Mills, Stockport, Cheshire, SK4 1TZ, UK Phone: 0161 480 3071 GET SOCIAL Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Policy Website Designed and Produced by Avalanche Creative Facebook Instagram