How To: Maintain a Sourdough Starter: FAQs

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How to Bake Sourdough Bread: Fermentation, Starters & Recipes

Published 2025

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Q: How Often Do I Need to Divide and Feed My Culture?

A: Select a routine that fits your schedule.

Feed your Culture based on how often you use it. Most bakeries feed their cultures daily. If the production load is large, they may feed the culture twice a day. Small bakeries can feed their yeast culture every other day. In your home, the Culture can be replenished twice or even once a week. The frequency of feedings can vary to fit any situation.

Q: When I Feed It, How Much Fresh Flour Does My Culture Need?

A: Use a ratio of 1 part Fresh Flour to 1 part Culture.

Always use weight, like ounces and pounds. Don’t use volume, like cups or quarts. If you have four ounces of Culture to feed, you need four ounces of Fresh Flour. With this system, you are always replenishing the Culture with a consistent amount of food—a percent based on the actual weight of the Culture.