New to sourdough?

Start here

Four steps, in order. You don't need to buy anything special to begin: a jar, a scale, flour and water will get you through steps 1 and 2.

1. 1

   Make a starter

   A day-by-day schedule from flour and water to a starter that doubles reliably. Allow one to two weeks. Print the starter checklist to track it.

2. 2

   Bake your first loaf

   One forgiving 70% hydration loaf with a two-day timeline. Bake it a few times before changing anything.

3. 3

   Fix what goes wrong

   Dense crumb, sticky dough, a flat loaf or a sluggish starter: find the symptom and the likely cause.

4. 4

   Add gear only when it helps

   What's essential, what's nice to have, and how to choose a Dutch oven, banneton or scale.