Making Sourdough – Getting Started, Equipment & Cleaning

Sourdough is essentially made from flour and water and develops through regular feeding. To get started, you mainly need patience, clean working habits and just a few utensils.

What do you need for sourdough?

A suitable jar, kitchen scales and a spoon or small dough scraper are useful. For baking bread later, you will also need basic bread-baking equipment such as a bowl, dough scraper and, depending on the recipe, a proofing basket or baking vessel.

Read more in Sourdough equipment: what do you really need?.

Feed sourdough regularly

When feeding your starter, part of it is mixed with fresh flour and water. Sticky residue can quickly remain on the jar, spoon and other utensils. It is best not to let these residues dry unnecessarily.

Remove sourdough residue after baking

When baking bread, dough also sticks to bowls, dough hooks, scrapers and work surfaces. An open-mesh cleaning cloth such as Teiger® is designed for sticky residue and can be rinsed clean afterwards.

See Removing sourdough residue and our general dough-residue guide.

From sourdough starter to your own bread

Once the starter is active, baking can begin. Beginners can find the key steps and useful tools in Baking your own bread for beginners.

Looking for a gift? See our practical gift ideas for sourdough fans.