Last Updated on February 18, 2023
Learn how to choose the best sourdough starter jar size!
Does it seem like everyone is baking some kind of sourdough bread lately? You aren’t far from the truth, because this is really experiencing its heyday. Experienced people could probably knead and bake the most delicious bread with their eyes closed, but what about beginners? They are indeed fighting a special kind of battle.
If you are one of them, your troubles are over. In this article, I will show you how to choose the perfect sourdough starter jar size.
What Should An Ideal Container Look Like?
To be honest, there are no restrictions; you can use any type of jar or container for your sourdough starters. It is only important that you choose one that is clean and of adequate capacity. Having said that, as with everything else, be aware that some are simply more suitable and will work better than others.
The jar with the following characteristics proved to be the best for me:
- Transparent,
- Wide-mouthed,
- Straight sided,
- The lid can be left loose.
Countless times, I have made sure that many of you get a perfect final product even when you start with the most ordinary jar of coffee. You know what? You don’t have to stress at all, as long as it suits you, feel free to continue.
Even I tried it a few times but ran into the classic problem of sourdough starter jar size and shape. Namely, my jar was kind of narrow and I had problems with monitoring and keeping things under control. On the other hand, flat or straight-sided jars are a much better option as they make it easier to keep track of how much the starter has grown.
Are you ready for some professional advice? If you can’t find a container or jar that has measurement markings on the side, don’t despair, we have a super easy DIY project for you. All you have to do is get a rubber band and put it around the container or jar to keep track of how much the starter has grown. So simple, and yet so effective and cheap, right?
In addition, you won’t go wrong if you choose glass instead of plastic ones. Glass jar for sourdough starter is much easier to disinfect, and doesn’t contain any acidic or toxic ingredients. Now we finally come to the main part of this article, in which I will try to explain to you why the choice of an adequate sourdough starter jar size is important. So, let’s get into the details!
Sourdough Starter Jar Size Really Does Matter
In addition to the above-mentioned specifications that the best jar for sourdough starter has, we deliberately omitted the main one so that we could pay enough attention to it, and it concerns the size itself.
Why is that so? Well, it’s very simple. The point is that the sourdough starter is a living colony of microorganisms. Given that these are living things, under ideal conditions they usually grow, and therefore don’t remain the same size as at the very beginning. This is precisely why it is crucial to choose the most appropriate sourdough starter jar size.
For example, choosing a jar that is too small will immediately limit the amount of starter you can make, even more so, you wouldn’t be the first to have the starter literally run away and then make a big mess. On the other hand, if you choose one that is too big, it will be anything but easy to store, and besides, it can make it very difficult for you to judge the activity.
What size jar for sourdough starter?
As far as my personal experience is concerned, I think that it would be best if it is an average, medium size. I believe that most of you would do well with jars that have the capacity to hold between 100g and 200g of sourdough starter.
It should be emphasized that I am not really a woman with large hands and that I honestly feel most comfortable when I work with 50 to 100 g of starter at hand, anything more than that is somehow too much for me. Furthermore, it would be good to choose a jar with a capacity of 26 to 34 oz.
Many of you are probably wondering what type I use, so I will save you the trouble right now. So, I have tried dozens of different ones but always come back to the classic jar with a quart in volume which is equal to about 32 ounces. It has proven to me countless times that it always works flawlessly.
Plus, it is small enough that it doesn’t give me a problem tracking the activity, yet it is big enough to produce 100 to 200 grams of starter, which is the typical amount needed for most of my favorite recipes.
What To Cover Sourdough Starter With?
It’s not just the sourdough starter jar size that is important, the lid is also crucial as it prevents the dough from drying out, prevents mold from forming as well as annoying bugs from landing and contaminating the dough.
Feel free to use whatever you like the most, I usually opt for a lid, plastic wrap, or even a small cloth. However, I must point out that I’m not really a fan of jars with flip-top lids, because so far I have had a lot of trouble when it is my turn to pour the sourdough starter, it just gets in the way.
Final Thoughts
Once again, a jar with the following characteristics proved to be the best for me:
- Transparent,
- Wide-mouthed,
- Straight sided,
- The lid can be left loose.
It would be a good idea to choose a 26 to 34-oz jar, as it is large enough to make 100 to 200 grams of starter, which, when you look closely, is the typical amount needed for most recipes. That’s it, now you know how to choose the perfect sourdough starter jar size.
Have questions? Let me know in the comment section below.
Read more: How Many Pieces Of Bread Are In A Bagel – An Easy Guide
