How to Make Your Own Sourdough Starter

In order to make these yummy recipes, including these Sourdough Blueberry Muffins, you’re going to need a sourdough starter.

Making your own sourdough starter is very easy!  I like knowing that I can easily make my own starter because, not only is it a very frugal and healthy way to leaven bread, but just in case I use it all up (again!), I can easily create a new starter. 

Ingredients:
1 cup warm water
1 ½ cups flour
1 tsp. salt*
1 tsp. sugar*
1 grated raw potato, small to medium sized*

* You can make your own starter with simply flour and water, but the addition of salt, sugar and potato give the wild yeasts more to eat which quickens and increases their growth.  It makes creating a starter much easier but it's not necessary.

Directions:
In a 2-cup liquid measuring cup, add 1 cup warm water.  To the water, add 1 ½ cups flour and 1 teaspoon each salt and sugar in a 2-cup measure. Add enough grated potato to make 2 cups.

Place mixture in a quart wide-mouth glass jar. Add 2 Tbl. - ¼ cup water if necessary to mix it easily until well combined.  Cover with a single thickness of cheesecloth to allow wild yeast from the air to settle into it.  Place the jar covered with cheesecloth in a warm place for 24 hours.

After 24 hours, stir well, and cover tightly with a clinging transparent wrap which will cause the moisture to drip back and keep top of mixture from drying. Stir the jar several times a day.

In two or three days it will become foamy and very light. The length of time depends on the temperature. 80-85* F is ideal. It can go a little below 80* without harm, only slowing the procedure a little, but if it goes much higher than 85* it will spoil.  I have found that on top of my hot water heater is the perfect place.

Once your starter is light and foamy with lots of bubbles throughout the jar, your starter is ready to use!