Tips
🥖 Reviving Tradition: Tricks & Tips for Perfect Sourdough with My Rustic Roots Starter
There’s nothing quite like the smell of fresh sourdough — warm, tangy, and full of life.
At My Rustic Roots, we’re proud to share a piece of baking history with you — our 170+ year-old freeze-dried San Francisco-style sourdough starter, handcrafted in small batches right here in Washington State.
Whether you’re brand new to sourdough or an old pro, these simple tricks and tips will help you bring your starter to life and keep it thriving for years to come. 🌾
🌾 1. Choose the Right Flour
Start with unbleached all-purpose or bread flour for the best results. Organic options work beautifully and encourage healthy fermentation.
🧺 Rustic tip: Once your starter is happy and bubbly, try experimenting with rye, whole wheat, or spelt for deeper flavor and richer texture.
💧 2. Use the Right Water
If your tap water smells strongly of chlorine, let it sit out overnight or use filtered water. Your starter’s wild yeast is sensitive to chemicals!
💧 Pro tip: Use room temperature water — too hot can damage the culture, too cold will slow it down.
🕰️ 3. Patience Is Everything
When first reviving your freeze-dried starter, give it 24–36 hours to fully awaken. It should double in size, smell slightly tangy, and look airy with bubbles on top.
If it seems slow, it’s usually just temperature — sourdough loves warmth (around 75°F / 24°C).
♻️ 4. Feed & Discard Wisely
To keep your culture balanced, discard about half of your starter before feeding. This keeps acidity in check and gives your yeast room to grow.
🧡 Rustic rhythm: Feed equal parts starter, flour, and water by weight (1:1:1).
Store on the counter if you bake daily, or refrigerate and feed weekly for maintenance.
🧺 5. Common Sourdough Questions
Why is my starter dry? Add a splash of water and mix until smooth.
Why isn’t it bubbling? Try moving it to a warmer spot.
Too sour? Feed more often to refresh the yeast.
Smells strange? Start over using your freeze-dried backup — that’s why we include a generous portion!
🥖 6. Time to Bake!
Your starter is ready when it passes the float test — drop a spoonful into water, and if it floats, it’s baking time!
From rustic boules to pancakes and pizza dough, sourdough adds flavor, texture, and gut-friendly goodness to everything you bake.
🍕 Rustic idea: Try using a bit of starter discard in crackers, waffles, or cinnamon rolls for a tangy twist.
🌿 7. Long-Term Storage Made Simple
Going on vacation or taking a baking break? You can re-freeze or dry your active starter for long-term storage — that’s how we preserve ours for generations.
Simply spread it thin on parchment, let it air dry, and store in a cool, dry place. When you’re ready to bake again, just rehydrate and feed. Easy and sustainable!
🌻 Final Thoughts from the Rustic Kitchen
Every loaf tells a story — of patience, care, and the wild yeast that connects us to generations past.
Our freeze-dried sourdough starter isn’t just a baking tool — it’s a living piece of history, ready to bring warmth and flavor to your home.
🕊️ Bake slow. Bake local. Bake with My Rustic Roots.