⏰ Service 49 — Sourdough Starter Project
← Block 43–44: Bread — Lean Doughs Overview
Skill: Starting a natural yeast culture; understanding sourdough fermentation timeline Read first: Sourdough Starter
Note: You won't eat sourdough today. Establishing a sourdough starter takes 5–7 days. Start it today; it will be ready for your first actual sourdough loaf in Block 45–46.
What you're learning: Sourdough starter is a live culture of wild yeast and bacteria captured from the flour and air. It ferments flour as food. Feeding it (discarding and adding fresh flour + water on schedule) keeps the culture healthy. Consistency of temperature and timing is the key.
Full Meal: Sourdough Starter is today's project — dinner is focaccia (make a second batch, your no-knead skill is solid now)
🎥 Compare Notes: A Non-Baker's Guide to Making Sourdough Bread (Alex French Guy Cooking) — His beginner lens matches yours right now. Watch when he knows the fermentation is right and how he reads the dough before shaping — that instinct is what you're building today.