Plated: A Sourdough Starter for Scrumptious Sustenance

Sourdough bread has a dense texture and slightly tangy flavor. It is naturally leavened through fermentation using a “starter” from flour and water. People have made sourdough bread for thousands of years; however, during the 2020 pandemic, homemade sourdough exploded in popularity. Sourdough requires more care and attention than other breads, and once people have more time, they can nurture a starter and experiment with different loaves.

Constance Shelby, a registered dietitian, nutritionist, and founder of Perfect Fit Nutrition, began baking sourdough during the shutdown. “During COVID, my sister lived with us for a month. To make sure we didn’t lose our minds, she wanted to try sourdough,” Shelby said. “We spent forever growing the starter, but we were in heaven when we finally had that first loaf.”

Growing a sourdough starter isn’t hard, but it can be challenging because it requires patience and constant attention, nurturing through feedings, and keeping in a proper environment. Many homemakers feel a sense of connection with their starter and name it, making it part of the family.

Julie Richardson of Brandon is new to sourdough, but her starter is already part of the family. “We named the first starter, Marcus,” Richardson said. “Now we have Marcus Jr. because Marcus Sr. got moldy.”

Shelby offers a tip to anyone intimidated by growing a starter from scratch: “Order a dehydrated starter!” Shelby said. “You can be confident that your starter is good before baking. You can always grow a starter later once you’re comfortable.”

You can start baking when your starter consistently doubles in size within 4 to 8 hours after feeding, shows visible bubbles throughout, and has a slightly sour smell. Depending on your environment and flour type, it can take 1 to 2 weeks. Test the readiness of your starter by seeing if a small amount floats in a glass of water when added.

The next step is to get baking! Start with a simple bread loaf. But don’t forget that patience and resilience are essential ingredients when baking at home.

Sourdough bread elevates sandwiches with decadent fillings. It pairs well with soups, hearty stews, or creamy spreads, and it is well-suited for gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches.

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