As I was checking out our King Arthur Baking store over the weekend, I became fascinated with the sourdough starter growing in a clear jar.
I remember first tasting toast made with sourdough bread as a teenager. I loved the crispy crust and tart flavored bread. Even today, I love a sandwich made from toasted sourdough bread slices. Sourdough bread is always made with a starter. The starter can be many years old; it is alive and is growing. Sometimes the starter is passed down from generation to generation.
During the recent pandemic people began to bake bread at home again including sourdough.
Sourdough Starter Display
When I first walked into the store, I noted this Sourdough display. The clear jar with the King Arthur crown on it is actually a sourdough storage container. It provides the perfect place to store sourdough starter. It has a loose-fitting lid so oxygen can enter while CO2 escapes.
Note the rubber band on the jar which helps the baker keep track of how much the starter has grown. You can also put the starter in a large bowl add lukewarm water and all-purpose flour. Mix and then cover the bowl loosely with plastic wrap or even a clean shower cap. This is to keep the top of the starter from drying out. However, there is an exact recipe for one to follow I’m only giving a quick blog on it.
To me it looks a little like a clinical laboratory beaker with a bit of baking thrown in.
Sourdough Starter is Growing
The store staff named this sourdough starter Arty probably after the King Arthur Baking Company. Since it hasn’t grown much over the rubber band line, I’m thinking they probably recently started it.
I like the way you can actually watch this starter grow. In about six hours it is ready to use.
Sourdough Bread Starter
Under the display is a small refrigerator holding one-ounce jars of the sourdough starter. You can purchase the starter mix and take it home with you to first feed and then use. However, the starter mix is hungry, so you need to feed it within 24 hours to keep it alive. Only heat will destroy the starter mix.
Ending Notes
I picked up a sourdough tips and recipes brochure from the store to read up on things. I like the way the discard can be used to make delicious looking pancakes and pizza dough. Discard is the portion of the starter disposed of when feeding the starter. Will a loaf of sourdough bread be next on my baking list? We’ll see.
A Big Thank You to the two sales associates behind the counter in the King Arthur Baking Company for allowing me to take photographs in the store and to blog about my experience.
Resource Sites: Wikipedia, Sourdough bread history and Sourdough Tips & Recipes pamphlet from the King Arthur Baking Company.