Traditional Sourdough Starter (Liquid Starter)

A traditional sourdough starter is made using just flour and water. It is generally referred to as a "liquid" starter because it is 100% hydration, meaning you use equal amounts of flour and water.

It's simple, easy and cheap to make which is probably what makes it the most popular choice when it comes to making sourdough bread.

You'll find instructions for making a traditional sourdough starter from flour and water here.

You can literally make a sourdough starter from any grain based flour – you can even make it gluten free by using rice flour or a blend of gluten free flours.

This is perhaps the easiest sourdough starter to make because flour and water are generally easy to come by. Make sure you choose unbleached flour though as you want to colonise lots of yeast from the start.

The most common choice of flour for a traditional sourdough starter is all purpose, plain or bread flour.

This method does take a lot of time and patience – but you will be well rewarded for your efforts with amazing sourdough bread!

This is a handy resource if you're looking for instructions for making a smaller sourdough starter.

You can read more about the history of sourdough starter here.

Recipes for Liquid Sourdough Starter Traditional sourdough starter can be used in any sourdough recipe, with some of the most popular recipes being: • Traditional Sourdough Bread • Sourdough Baguettes • Sourdough English Muffins • Overnight Sourdough Bagels