Can someone explain step by step how to make sourdough?

amother

Caramel

Wed, Mar 06 2024, 7:32 am

amother OP wrote:

From what I read, it can take a few weeks to make a sourdough?

It takes about 2 weeks to make a strong starter from scratch. You can get some starter from someone who has one- they probably have discard all the time.

amother

Smokey

Wed, Mar 06 2024, 1:59 pm

amother OP wrote:

From what I read, it can take a few weeks to make a sourdough?

You can bake for the first time after 4-5 days, but I continue feeding daily over 2 weeks, and then I keep the starter in the fridge and feed as needed.

For the first time (after 4 days), you might want to add a bit of yeast, so that it rises well.

Personally, I would not start a starter a few weeks before pessach, since I don't keep sourdough over pessach. Because sourdough is the original chametz.

On the other hand, you could start one now, experiment a bit with it, and then start seriously after pessach.

I do sourdough with rye flour, mostly whole grain, and for the bread I mix about 60% rye with 40% wheat, both mostly whole grain.

If you take just rye, there is less gluten, so it does not hold the shape very well. When you mix rye and wheat, you can make loaves that hold their shape in the oven, without mould or dutch oven. However, my starter is only rye.

kugelEater

Wed, Mar 06 2024, 2:46 pm

I follow Rorie Wiesberg's spelt sourdough course. I got starter from my friend but I will have to make new after Pesach.
1. I refresh my starter Tuesday night
2. and again on Wednesday morning/night,
3. make the dough Thursday morning,
4. stretch and fold a few times over Thursday (I work from home that day) and
5. shape Thursday night, and then
6. bake Friday morning.

It sounds like a lot but it's just a few minutes each time, and once you get used to it it is so much easier than traditional challah!