I found instructions online for making a sourdough starter from scratch. What are the advantages of purchasing an established sourdough culture?
A. Although it is possible to create a sourdough culture from scratch (as discussed in Nourishing Traditions), using an established sourdough culture has several advantages. First, it’s easier. Creating a starter from scratch involves a lot of effort over a seven day period (feeding the starter each day, switching containers, etc.). Second, it is faster to use an established culture as it can generally be ready to bake within 1-4 days (no changing of containers required). Finally, with an established starter, you can be assured that the sourdough culture will have a pleasant taste. Not all wild yeast is created equal and we don’t all live somewhere with pleasant tasting yeast so capturing wild yeast where you live may not yield the desired effects.
