How To Know When Your Sourdough Starter is Ready For Baking?

You have just made a new sourdough starter and now you're wondering whether it is ready to bake bread with it. In this video, I am sharing the signs and hallmarks to look for - and how you can still bake with a young starter or how to get it more active.

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#sourdoughstarter #sourdoughready #bakewithsourdough

[susanfoy]

Please ignore the complaints about you "peddling products." I understand that the sour house is not sponsoring this video, but we don't pay you for your content, and you deserve some compensation for your time, effort and knowledge. Even if you were being paid, I don't see a problem with "peddling products" if you really do stand behind them.

[trulylynn]

Please disregard the negative ones out there. We all know you are a woman of integrity and we all love your channel!

[patriciaredick]

Thank you Anja for the refresher. Sorry to hear someone felt it necessary to criticize you. You are a genuine person and I appreciate your insight.

[nothinseehere]

I've found that when my starter is happy, she smells like wine. I absolutely LOVE your channel. I come back to your sourdough recipes again and again for reference.

[michaeltaylor]

I started my sourdough journey in January. I used the method that I saw in your videos. ❤ It! I don't discard and now making bread weekly.

[barbaraphillips]

I love your relaxed way of presentation. You have me thinking, “I can do this — it’s not complicated.”
Thank you so much for the encouragement ❤

[dlgrilli]

I emailed you a picture of my 6-day-old sourdough starter and you said it looked ready, give it a try. I did and I just want you to know that the next morning it had risen nicely. Thank you for this video, your tips help a lot. I think I'll go get a loaf going 😊

[veronicalaverneegan]

I appreciate the help you are giving us for free. I don’t understand someone criticizing you. If you are advertising or selling something so what. You deserve some compensation for all the work you put in to this and to help us learn your technique. Thankyou so much for all I have learned from you. Please don’t let others hurt your feelings over their jealousy because you are doing well. Please keep on teaching us.❤

[brendariley]

Absolutely. Not every loaf is the same and that's the joy and fun of baking. Sourdough is the healthiest bread you can eat, so it's ok to figure it out as you go.! Tip: Cleaning up after is easier and faster if you clean up with cold water first. Then you can super clean with your soap and hot water.

[maritzapadilla]

Anya, usted es la mejor persona que ha explicado paso por paso como hacer el sourdought, olvide a las personas que solo piensan en molestar, enfoque su atención en quienes hemos aprendido con su método, me encanta como explica todo, la felicito me gusta su canal y, mucho siga adelante con mucho éxito

[LoriLulu]

Thank you. My SD has been working for 3 weeks now. Some jars are bubbly, some are more smooth. I did the drop test… all fell to the bottom. The jars sound hollow when I tap the bottom. I’m a bit nervous about sampling the starter… lol. I made 2 jars with buttermilk and the other 4 from my niece’s starter and she makes fabulous bread. I think I’ll let my starter keep working for a few more weeks, per your instruction. I started with King Aurthur’s white, unbleached and moved to KA whole wheat. Recently, I fed them with Bob’s Red Mill Rye and some caraway seeds which helped bump up the action immensely. My question is: I’m not sure which flour to continue with.
Thank you, Anna. 💖

[lisarazzilier-lavoie]

Good morning Anna - excellent video, especially for beginners and those that may be struggling. I'd like to vouch the hollow bottom sound of the jar is more reliable than the float test For example if someone has 100% wholegrain rye starter, you can easily see all the bubbles and the rise in volume. Both indicate lots of air to rise bread. You're the only I learned that from AND I wish I learned your method to start a new sourdough starter.
Thank you sharing the haters comment so your viewers can give you a little dose of encouragement. Its clear you're not the person they tried to pin on you and you do share if sponsored. Sadly there's a lot of unhappy people (or bots?) that only feel better when attacking others.
Another solid video - well done 😊

[traceythesassysoutherner]

Love your videos and who cares if you are marketing a product you like. You should be able to share products you like and make a little money because you took the time to use and test the product not to mention the hours you take making videos to help others. Also really enjoyed your book reviews.

[Lisalynne-ckgf]

You can peddle a product you believe in. Im glad you found that as ive heard you say numerous times your kitchen is cool. Thankyou for all your recipes and help with sourdough. Ive added my starter to cookies and breads, everything has been delicious 😊

[pastureexpectationsfarm]

When I listed to my starter, I just hear the ocean ;)

[Breeze]

First time here. I bought myself one for Christmas and LOOOVE IT. Works great

[padmarubiales]

I don’t think my sourdough starter has ever looked like yours! Something to aspire towards. I appreciated this episode with extra close looks at a ripe sourdough, so we know what to look for. The word for pleasantly sour, might be “Tangy!” 😊
Too bad about the negative comments on the Goldie. I for one really appreciate knowing what kind of things you use in your kitchen and I have bought a kitchen scale and I’m planning on getting a dough whisk, the biscuit cutters, and some rye flour from some of your suggestions. I like to know what the experienced people are using! So thank you for your suggestions!

[denisetaylor]

Thanks! I appreciate your product/gadget mentions. Often good tools make a job easier & more successful. Your starter warmer looks fantastic. Could have used that many times in the past 10 years, especially in my cooler winter-y months. But...using your suggestion of making a rye flour starter, I no longer have any problem in getting refrigerated starter more active & ready for baking. The rye even forms bubbles in the jar in the frige, by cold fermenting. I have a qt jar for fridge. & a 2 qt jar for on the counter to ad starter, rye flour & water to overnight on counter, with cloth lid. It's always ready the next morning. Wow! Game changer! Thanks!

[Dolly]

❤what a wonderful gadget. Good for you my dear. Don’t pay any attention to those negative nuts. You go girl. If you want to make money. Make money! Why not? I hope you make lots of money 💰.

[marthabeck]

I love your videos. They are so helpful! I also love hearing about new “gadgets” because I am always interested in new ways of doing things. Thank you!!