Journal ·
How to Know When Your Sourdough Starter Is Ready
Three simple, no-stopwatch tests to tell whether your starter is mature enough to bake with — and what to do if it isn't.
This is an example post to verify the blog pipeline. Replace or remove before launch.
The float test
Drop a teaspoon of fed starter into a glass of water. If it floats, it has enough gas activity to leaven a loaf. If it sinks, give it another four to six hours and try again.
The smell test
A ready starter smells faintly of yogurt and ripe fruit — never of paint thinner or pure vinegar. Sharp solvent notes mean it is hungry. Feed it.
The volume test
A healthy starter doubles within four to eight hours of feeding at room temperature. Mark the jar with a rubber band right after feeding and watch the line.
Bake when two of the three tests agree, not just one.