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If you’re just getting started, this sourdough for beginners guide is everything I wish I’d had. I started my sourdough journey last January, during a season of life that felt especially quiet, and honestly, really heavy. At the time, I was dog sitting for my parents and in between jobs. I had a lot of unstructured time and very few distractions. Being back in my parents’ home brought up a lot of emotions, and without the usual busyness of everyday life, my grief felt louder than ever. There was a lot of sitting with my thoughts, whether I wanted to or not. I’m incredibly grateful that my aunt suggested I try making sourdough during that time. One night she came over with some of her starter, shared a few recipe recommendations, and just like that… it began. At the time, it felt like just something new to try. I didn’t realize how grounding it would become, or how much comfort I’d find in the routine of it all.
Sourdough for Beginners: Learning As I Went (and Failing a Lot)
Let me be honest…there were epic fails.
Dense loaves. Over-proofed dough. Bread that looked promising on the outside but was very questionable once sliced. But I kept trying.
As much as I hate the saying “practice makes perfect” (because nothing ever really feels perfect), practice does get you close enough. Over time, I stopped focusing so much on the outcome and started enjoying the process.
I began with simple, plain loaves and slowly experimented with flavors and scoring designs: blueberry lemon, garlic parmesan, and everything but the bagel seasoning. I branched out into focaccia and bagels, and then quickly discovered one of my favorite parts of sourdough baking: discard recipes.
Some favorites:
- Homemade Cheez-Its
- Cinnamon Rolls (I even made some with pistachio cream!)
- Chocolate chip cookies
- Banana bread
- And one of my personal favorites: pizza dough
This was especially great for my husband, who was always willing to try whatever new idea I came up with, no questions asked.
Baking Through the Seasons
When the holidays rolled around, sourdough became even more fun. I loved shaping loaves to match the season: Easter bunnies, Christmas trees, pumpkins in the fall. It added a playful, creative element to baking and was always a great gift for a family member.
Environment Matters More Than You Think
One thing I didn’t expect was how much your environment affects sourdough.
When we lived in our third floor apartment, my starter absolutely thrived. After moving into our house, it took time to adjust. Different temperatures, different air, different rhythms. I had to relearn what worked, which was frustrating at times, but also a reminder that sourdough is very much alive.
Which brings me to the starter.
The Starter: A Full-Time Commitment
Taking care of a sourdough starter is no joke. Feeding it regularly takes time, and yes, I forgot some days. But somehow, it always seemed to bounce back. There’s something comforting about that, like a reminder that things don’t have to be perfect to survive.
Scoring loaves and deciding how each one would look became my favorite part of the process. You never truly know how a loaf will turn out until it’s baked, and I love that little element of surprise every time I open the oven.
The Not-So-Fun Part: Cleaning & Safety
As much as I love sourdough, there is one part I genuinely dislike: the cleanup.
Sourdough starter gets everywhere: jars, counters, bowls, hands, clothing and cleaning it can be stressful. I learned quickly that sourdough starter is terrible for drains. Now I always scrape excess starter into the trash before washing anything.
Another important thing to mention, especially if you have pets, is that raw sourdough starter can be dangerous for dogs if consumed. The fermentation can continue in their stomachs, which is unsafe. With dogs always nearby in our house, I’m extra cautious about keeping starter and dough out of reach and cleaning up spills immediately.
Learning From the Sourdough Internet
One of the best parts of my sourdough journey has been discovering the sourdough community online. Watching other bakers experiment, troubleshoot, and share their experiences has been incredibly helpful, and reassuring.
Some of my favorite sourdough accounts to follow: @therealsourdoughmom, @brynn | thesourdoughnerd, @gigi, and @sourdough_hoochie. I also love getting inspiration from my Aunt Paige, who first introduced sourdough to me.
And if you ever needed proof that sourdough is basically a lifestyle: in Europe, there are actual sourdough starter hotels. You can drop your starter off before going on vacation, and they’ll feed and care for it while you’re away.
You Don’t Need All the Things
It’s easy to think you need every tool to make sourdough, but you really don’t.
You can start very basic:
- A fork works for mixing
- A regular bowl can be used for shaping
- You can open-steam bake in the oven instead of using a Dutch oven
I’ll be sharing some Amazon items I’ve found genuinely helpful, along with a few things I wish I had, but please know you don’t need everything to get started.
Sourdough Must Haves for Beginners
I’ve put all of my favorite sourdough items from Amazon in the below links.
Why This Means So Much to Me
I’ve always loved being in the kitchen. I grew up baking with both of my grandmothers, and cooking has always felt comforting and familiar. My mom was an incredible cook, and being in the kitchen will always remind me of her in the best way.
In addition, Sourdough has become one of my favorite parts of my morning routine, right alongside my home coffee bar setup.
Since moving, I’ve struggled a bit with building community, especially working remotely. Because of that, I’ve even considered opening a small micro-bakery someday and selling a few of my favorite sourdough items. I’m not sure if it will ever happen, but like I said in my very first blog post, I’m trying to get out of my comfort zone.
