Always thought sourdough starter was too much work, finally gave in

I used to buy those instant yeast packets for everything, figured keeping a jar of flour goo alive was just extra hassle. Then my neighbor dropped off a loaf from her 3-year-old starter, and the flavor was like nothing I'd ever gotten from commercial yeast. She showed me her feeding routine, it's literally 5 minutes every other day. So I took a cup of her discard and started my own last Tuesday. Anyone else have a moment where a friend's baking made you completely switch your method?

2 comments

2 Comments

graceblack4d agoMost Upvoted

Did your neighbor’s loaf have that tangy, almost nutty flavor that just hits different? I was exactly like you, used to buy the little yeast packets and thought keeping a starter was some kind of science project I didn’t have time for. Then my sister visited and brought over some bread from her friend’s starter that was like a year old, and I couldn’t believe the difference. It was way more moist and had this complex taste that made me rethink everything. So I asked for a bit of her discard, and now I’m feeding my own little jar every couple days. It’s honestly way easier than I thought, and the payoff is huge.

daniel_walker4d ago

Add a tiny pinch of diastatic malt powder to your feedings and watch that flavor deepen even more.