Was talking to a bakery owner in Portland who said sourdough starters are overrated for most home bakers, and I can't decide if she's gatekeeping or onto something.

She said starters are just a flex for 80% of people who'd get better results with commercial yeast, but my neighbor swears by his 10-year-old starter for flavor. Which side do you fall on for everyday baking?

3 comments

3 Comments

wilson.olivia3d ago

Jumping in because I had the exact same debate with myself a few months back. Got a starter from a friend, babied it for weeks, and honestly my basic sandwich bread with store bought yeast came out way better every time. Kept the starter going for a while but finally gave it up when I realized I was just feeding it out of guilt and not actually enjoying the results. For everyday toast and sandwiches, commercial yeast wins for me hands down.

betty_perry243d agoMost Upvoted

Oh wow, I was totally on the other side of this until I read your post @wilson.olivia. You just made me realize I've been keeping my starter alive for the wrong reasons, not because it actually makes better bread for my morning toast.

nina_hall483d ago

The guilt feeding thing is so real lol. I've been thinking about it lately and it's like we do this with so many things, not just sourdough. Like I have this old coffee grinder I never use because it takes forever but I keep it on my counter because a friend gave it to me and I feel bad. Same with apps on my phone I downloaded once and never opened but can't delete. At some point you gotta admit the stuff you keep around out of obligation is just taking up space in your life and your kitchen. I finally gave my starter to a neighbor who actually bakes with it daily and it felt like such a weight off.