Use this step-by-step guide to make your own sourdough starter with fresh milled flour for the most delicious and healthiest baked goods!
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Sourdough is all the rage these days, and for good reason! Fermenting grains makes them easier to digest and gives bread a delicious tang. But I feel like the Internet makes sourdough way harder than it has to be. Precise measurements, rising to exact percentages, and discarding every day was just too much for me. But sourdough has become less of a science and more of a rhythm in our home, and I am so grateful!
So, let’s say this is sourdough made practical, not technical, with the added benefits of fresh milled flour!
This is the foundation of so many of the delicious meal we make on a weekly basis. Fresh milled sourdough discard pizza, whole wheat sourdough bread, and fresh milled sourdough hamburgers buns have become favorites at our home.
What Is Sourdough Starter?
Sourdough starter is simply a paste made of fermented flour and water, full of natural yeast! It is used to make bread rise without having to use other yeast. Sourdough starter makes delicious, tangy breads, muffins, and all kinds of baked goods.
How Is Sourdough Starter with Fresh Milled Flour Different Than Normal Sourdough Starter?
Sourdough starter made with fresh milled flour is essentially the same as normal sourdough starter. However, there are a few differences!
- Fresh milled flour makes sourdough starter rise a little quicker. I have found it takes less time than normal starter to rise and be active.
- Fresh milled flour can also make sourdough starter thicker. So you mean need to add just a little more water than normal to get the right ratio of flour to water!
Ingredients
For this recipe, you only need two ingredients!
Because you only need two ingredients, I recommend using ingredients of the highest quality.
Fresh Milled Flour – The best way to have fresh milled flour is to purchase a grain mill. If you do not have a grain mill, you can purchase fresh milled flour! If you’re in the Middle TN area, check out our shop for Fresh Milled Flour.
Shop
Water – We use a countertop water filtration system that we LOVE. I highly recommend using filtered water. If you rent or don’t want to invest in a whole house water filtration system, I highly recommend this!
Supplies You May Need
The supplies you need for this recipe are very basic. You can make a sourdough starter in almost any container with any kind of spoon, but I like to use a few small things to make the process easier.
- Mason Jar
- Fabric Mason Jar Cover or Loose Lid – To cover the jar loosely, while letting any gas escape
- Spurtle – To stir the sourdough starter
How to Make A Sourdough Starter With Fresh Milled Flour
To make a sourdough starter with fresh milled flour, you will use the same process you would use for a normal sourdough starter.
Process For Making A Sourdough Starter
Day 1
In a clean jar or glass bowl, combine 1/2 cup of fresh milled flour and 1/4 cup of room temperature (or slightly warm) water. Make sure all the flour gets rehydrated by stirring the flour and water together really well. Once everything is well combined, throw a clean tea towel over the jar, or use of the mason jar covers (my favorite way) to cover the jar!
The texture should be thick– similar to a cornbread batter. If the mixture seems runny, add a little more flour.
- Add 1/4 cup of water and 1/2 cup of fresh milled flour to the jar.
- Stir until really well combined.
- Throw a clean teal towel or mason jar cover over the jar and let sit in a warm place until the next day.
Day 2
You’ll probably be noticing a few bubbles– yay! Start by removing half of the starter from the jar. This is called discard. The reason for removing the discard is really just so you don’t end up with a giant amount of starter. Once your starter is established, you’ll be able to use this starter in recipes, and you’ll never have to throw any away!
- Discard half the starter from the jar.
- Add 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of fresh milled flour to the jar.
- Stir really well, scraping down the sides are you go.
- Cover and let rest in a warm spot until the next day!
Day 3-7
Repeat the process above!
- Discard half the starter from the jar.
- Add 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of fresh milled flour to the jar.
- Stir really well, scraping down the sides are you go.
- Cover and let rest in a warm spot until the next day!
Day 7-8
You’ll notice your starter grows when you feed it each and that it bubbles a lot now! Once it can nearly double in size when fed, you’ll know that your sourdough starter is active and ready to use!
An active starter is ready to bake with! It will be bubbly, grow in size, have a delicious yeasty smell, and the texture will almost look whipped.
Tips For Making Sourdough Starter With Fresh Milled Flour
- Temperature matters – The warmer your house is, the quicker the sourdough starter will rise! If your house is particularly cold, you can put your starter near the oven to rise quicker. Or you can purchase a warming mat!
- Dark colored liquid – This is called “hooch,” and it’s harmless! I usually pour it off, but you can also mix it is. It indicates that your sourdough starter is hungry and should be fed soon.
- Mold – Watch out for mold on your sourdough starter! It can be white, pink, or even orange. Toss immediately if you see these.
Maintaining A Sourdough Starter
Farmhouse on Boone has a great article on this. But here are a few important things to know…
- Feeding Your Starter – Before you want to bake with your starter, it’s important to feed your starter. I eyeball mine, feeding it equal parts flour and water until it is a thick pancake batter texture.
If I have about 1/4 cup of starter in the jar, I will feed my starter about 1/4 cup of water and 1/4 up of fresh milled flour. - Storing Your Starter – You can choose to store your starter on the counter or in the fridge, depending on how often you plan to use it.
- Cleaning The Jar – When the starter starts to build up on the sides of the jar, I change my jar out. However, I don’t follow a strict schedule.
Where Do I Store My Sourdough Starter?
If you are baking every day... you should be feeding your sourdough starter every day. In this case, keep it on the counter.
If you are aren’t baking every day… store your starter in the fridge until you are ready to bake. Get your starter out and feed it at least one a week.
FAQs
How Is Fresh Milled Flour Different Than Normal Flour?
Fresh milled flour contains the entire wheat berry– whole and intact. Whereas store bought flour only contains one part of the wheat berry: the endosperm. Using the whole wheat berry makes fresh milled flour a much healthier choice because it contains more fiber and many more nutrients.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Fresh Milled Flour?
Check out this blog post about the benefits of using fresh milled flour!
Where Can I Purchase Fresh Milled Flour?
If you’re in the Middle Tennessee area, we mill flour for our neighbors on a daily basis. Check out our shop! If you aren’t in the Middle Tennessee area, I recommend purchasing a NutriMill grain mill! It is the best way to get fresh milled flour every time you bake.
Is It Better To Make My Own Starter Or Get Some From Someone Else?
I have done both several times, but I always opt for getting starter from someone else, as long as I trust their maintenance skills and know they are using organic, non-GMO grains. A mature starter often has a deeper flavor that makes for a delicious loaf of bread.
What Kind Of Fresh Milled Flour Should I Use?
I feed my sourdough starter with whatever kind of flour I have leftover. That could be soft white, hard white, or soft red. Any of those seem to work really well for me.
How Is Sourdough Starter With Fresh Milled Flour Different Than Normal Sourdough Starter?
It is, in essence, the same process. However, a sourdough starter made with fresh milled flour will rise a little quicker and may need a little more or less water, depending on the kind of fresh milled flour you are using.
What Recipes Can I Use Fresh Milled Flour Sourdough Starter For?
You can use this starter with any recipe you would use regular sourdough starter with!
Easy Sourdough Recipes
- 100% Whole Wheat Sourdough Loaf
- Whole Wheat Sourdough Discard Pizza
Sourdough Starter With Fresh Milled Flour Recipe
Sourdough Starter with Fresh Milled Flour
Use this step-by-step guide to make your own sourdough starter with fresh milled flour for the most delicious and healthiest baked goods!
Ingredients
- Fresh Milled Flour
- Water
Instructions
Day 1
In a clean jar or glass bowl, combine 1/2 cup of fresh milled flour and 1/4 cup of room temperature (or slightly warm) water.
- Add 1/4 cup of water and 1/2 cup of fresh milled flour to the jar. The texture should be like a thick pancake batter.
- Stir until really well combined.
- Throw a clean teal towel or mason jar cover over the jar and let sit in a warm place until the next day.
Day 2
You'll probably be noticing a few bubbles– yay! Start by removing half of the starter from the jar. This is called discard. The reason for removing the discard is really just so you don't end up with a giant amount of starter. Once your starter is established, you'll be able to use this starter in recipes, and you'll never have to throw any away!
- Discard half the starter from the jar.
- Add 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of fresh milled flour to the jar.
- Stir really well, scraping down the sides are you go.
- Cover and let rest in a warm spot until the next day!
Days 3-7
Repeat the process above!
- Discard half the starter from the jar.
- Add 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of fresh milled flour to the jar.
- Stir really well, scraping down the sides are you go.
- Cover and let rest in a warm spot until the next day!
Days 7-8
You'll notice your starter grows when you feed it each and that it bubbles a lot now! Once it can nearly double in size when fed, you'll know that your sourdough starter is active and ready to use!
An active starter is ready to bake with! It will be bubbly, grow in size, have a delicious yeasty smell, and the texture will almost look whipped.
Notes
Save For Later
If you try this recipe and love it, please leave a review! And take a picture and tag me on Instagram @barefootandaproned! I would love to see the sourdough you make for your family!
This is a great resource for anyone looking to start baking with fresh-milled flour! I appreciate how you’ve simplified the sourdough starter process without compromising on quality. The step-by-step guide is clear and approachable, and your tips are very helpful.
Thank you so much. Sourdough definitely doesn’t have to be as complicated as the Internet likes to make it out to be. Fresh milled flour has transformed our kitchen!
Thanks for sharing this detailed guide. I’m going to try it out and will definitely let you know how it goes.
Please do! Thank you for the encouragement.
I love this resource! I have been watching sourdough groups from afar for a while. I will try it sometime! I love seeing all the wonderful things people create with their sourdough starters.
Awesome! Sourdough, when done simply, is such a fun and relaxing hobby.