Sourdough starter creation, maintenance, and troubleshooting
Sam Whitaker · November 21, 2025
The smell hit me before I even saw the jar — something sharp and almost boozy, way past the pleasant tang I’d gotten used to. When I finally looked, the starter had climbed clean over the rim, dried into crusty ridges down the outside of the glass, and left a sticky trail creeping across my … Read more
Sam Whitaker · November 18, 2025
There’s a jar that’s lived on the back-left corner of my counter for years now, tucked next to the stove where the ambient warmth hovers around 74°F — and yet no spot in my kitchen, however carefully chosen, can substitute for what makes a genuine San Francisco starter what it is. This is arguably the … Read more
Sam Whitaker · November 17, 2025
Pick the wrong path for your very first starter and you can burn two weeks feeding a jar of flour paste that was never going to wake up. That’s the real cost here — sourdough itself isn’t the hard part; it’s that most guides online are written for people who already know what “normal” looks … Read more
Sam Whitaker · November 13, 2025
Most sourdough bakers overthink their starter. They fret over ratios, stare at fermentation windows, and obsess over every bubble. What they’re missing is simpler: your starter doesn’t need perfection. It needs consistency. After 11 years of baking and three years running a home microbakery, I’ve learned that starter sourdough—bread made with your own cultivated culture—teaches … Read more
Sam Whitaker · November 7, 2025
An honest review of ‘Artisan Sourdough Made Simple’ cookbook. Perfect beginner-friendly guide with simple directions and proven recipes that work every time. Perfect for complete beginners to sourdough baking.
