Where To Get Sourdough Starter If You Don't Want To Make It From Scratch - Tasting Table

"So while you can make sourdough starter at home using flour and water, it is a bit of a process. It can take nearly a week to properly prepare, and you need to be careful about all those feeding times and temperatures. A much easier solution is to buy some starter, or get it from someone who already has one."

"If none of your friends are willing to give up part of their precious starter, or they're simply not bread bakers, then it's definitely worth talking to the staff at a local bakery. If you live somewhere that's a sourdough stronghold, like San Francisco, a lot of places might be willing to just give out a little of their starter for free, or maybe they'll even trade it to you or charge a small fee."

"If you do need to shop online, go to a trusted source. Sourdough starters need to be temperature controlled and you want to make sure you know how old the starter is and that there aren't any added ingredients. It also makes life a lot easier when the starter is active and fresh - that way you don't need to worry about rehydrating it."

Sourdough starter can be made at home using flour and water, but the process often takes nearly a week and requires careful feeding schedules and temperature control. Many bakers prefer obtaining an existing starter from friends, neighbors, or local bakeries to avoid the lengthy setup. Pandemic-era interest in sourdough has made starter-sourcing easier through personal networks. When buying online, choose a trusted seller, confirm temperature-controlled handling, starter age, and absence of additives. An active, fresh starter reduces preparation work; inactive starters will require rehydration before regular baking use.

Read at Tasting Table