Easy Homemade Sourdough Bread for Beginners

How to Bake Sourdough Bread? (A Simple Guide for Beginners)

Do you want to bake homemade sourdough bread but don’t know where to start? You’re in the right place
In this article, we’ll walk you through all the steps from beginning to end — from creating your sourdough starter to maintaining it and finally baking delicious sourdough bread. Stay with us, and you’ll be on your way to becoming a professional home baker

Making a Sourdough Starter from Scratch

A sourdough starter is the key ingredient for baking sourdough bread — and luckily, it’s not complicated at all! To make a sourdough starter, you only need three things: flour, water, and time

Steps to Create Your Starter

Mix flour and water
Combine equal parts flour and water (by weight). Place the mixture in a container at room temperature

Daily feeding
Each day, discard a portion of the starter and add fresh flour and water. This helps activate the natural microorganisms inside

Wait for it to rise
Within a few days, the mixture will begin bubbling and releasing gas. You’ll see your starter becoming more and more active

Important Tips

Feeding time: The process can take anywhere from 5 to 14 days. Patience is key! Make sure your starter is growing well after each feeding

Ready to use: Your starter is ready when it doubles in size within 6–8 hours after feeding. If it’s still sluggish, keep feeding until it becomes strong and active

Buying a Ready-Made Starter

If you don’t have the time to create a starter from scratch, don’t worry! You can purchase a ready-made sourdough starter from trusted stores. These starters are already mature and only require regular feeding

?How to Use a Ready-Made Starter

Feed the starter: After receiving it, simply feed it with fresh flour and water to activate it

Use the starter: Once it becomes bubbly and doubles in size within 6–8 hours, it’s ready to bake delicious bread

Sourdough Bread Guide

Caring for Your Sourdough Starter

After making or purchasing a sourdough starter, you need to store it properly to keep it active and always ready for baking

:How to maintain your starter

Regular feeding: A sourdough starter kept at room temperature should be fed every 12 hours. Consistency is very important

Refrigeration: If you’re not using your starter daily, store it in the refrigerator and feed it once a week

Monitor activity: Always check your starter’s activity. If it doesn’t double in size, more frequent feedings or adjusting environmental conditions may help it become more active

Tools You’ll Need for Sourdough Baking

:To bake sourdough bread, you only need a few simple tools that make the process easier

Mixing bowls: A few bowls for mixing ingredients. Glass or metal bowls are recommended

Sharp knife: Use a sharp knife or bread lame for cutting and shaping the dough

Baking vessel: A heavy pot with a tight lid (like a Dutch oven) is ideal for baking sourdough and ensures proper steam and rise

Important Tips for Baking Sourdough

Proper baking temperature: Bake sourdough at 220°C (430°F). At this temperature, the bread rises well and develops a light, airy crumb

Kneading the dough: The dough should be kneaded well to create a soft and elastic texture

Resting periods: Allow the dough to rest and rise after kneading so it gains enough volume