1
Begin the Starter. In a clean 1 litre glass jar, mix 50g of wholemeal rye flour with 50g of water. Cover loosely and place in a warm spot in your house (20 to 26°C / 70 to 80°F). Fill the jar no more than a third: an active starter can triple after a feed.
2
First Feeding. Add 50g of plain flour and 50g of water to the jar. Stir well and cover.
3
Activity Begins. Morning: Feed the starter with 50g of plain flour and 50g of water.Evening: Discard 100g of starter. Feed with 50g of plain flour and 50g of water.
4
Building Momentum. Morning: Discard 100g of starter. Feed with 50g of plain flour and 50g of water.Evening: Repeat the same process as in the morning.
5
The Growth Test. By now, your starter should double in size a few hours after feeding. If it doesn’t, repeat the Day 4 routine until it does. For some, this can take up to 7 days, so patience is key!
6
How to Store and Use Your Starter. Once your starter is active and doubling consistently, it’s ready to use. Store it in the fridge with a loose cover, allowing it to breathe. Feed it weekly or whenever you take some for a recipe (Add in weight what you take out in 1:1 ratio)
7
To Reactivate a Cold Starter for baking. Take 100g of starter and mix it with 50g of warm water and 50g of plain flour.Leave at room temperature for at least 3 hours, or overnight if possible. The starter will wake-up and will be ready to use in your recipe giving you amazing bread!