How I Keep My Sourdough Starter Alive with Minimal Effort
If you’ve ever been told sourdough starter needs constant attention, daily feedings, and a carefully planned life around it… let me reassure you:
It doesn’t.
I bake sourdough regularly, work full-time, have a family and absolutely forget things sometimes. My starter is still alive, bubbly and making great bread — because I keep it low-maintenance on purpose.
This is how I keep my sourdough starter alive with minimal effort. No guilt, no strict schedules and no tossing it because life got busy.
My Starter Philosophy
My goal isn’t to have the most active starter on Instagram. My goal is reliable bread that fits my life.
That means:
Feeding when it makes sense
Using the fridge strategically
Keeping the starter small
Letting go of perfection
Good enough sourdough is still delicious sourdough.
I Keep My Starter in the Fridge (Most of the Time)
This is the biggest reason my starter survives.
I keep a small amount of starter in a jar in the fridge about 90% of the time. I keep my starter in a simple glass jar with room to rise — nothing fancy, just something easy to clean and store in the fridge. Cold temperatures slow fermentation, which means:
Less feeding
Less discard
Less stress
If I’m not baking that week, I don’t touch it.
How I Feed My Starter (When I Do)
When I plan to bake, here’s my very simple routine:
The night before baking:
Pull starter from the fridge
Feed equal parts flour + water (about 50g each). I use a small kitchen scale for feeding — it keeps things simple and avoids overthinking ratios.
Leave it on the counter overnight
The next morning:
It’s bubbly, active and ready to use. That’s it. No daily feedings. No complicated ratios.
I Keep My Starter Small on Purpose
A huge starter = more feeding = more waste.
I keep just enough starter to bake what I need, then feed it lightly before putting it back in the fridge. If I end up with discard, great — I’ll use it. If not, also fine.
What Happens If I Forget About It?
Nothing catastrophic. Sometimes:
It stays in the fridge longer than planned
I miss a feeding
It looks a little sleepy
In those cases, I just give it an extra feeding or two before baking. Sourdough starter is surprisingly forgiving.
What I Do with Discard
When I do have discard, I actually enjoy using it:
Crackers
Pizza dough
Bagels
Quick baked goods
Honestly? Discard recipes are half the reason I keep a starter.
Why This Works for a Busy Life
Keeping my starter alive this way:
Fits my schedule
Reduces waste
Keeps sourdough enjoyable instead of stressful
If sourdough feels overwhelming, it’s usually because we’re trying to do too much. You don’t need perfection — just a rhythm that works for you.
Your starter should support your life, not run it.
