Activate Sourdough Starter & Bake Your First Loaf

Learn real sourdough the way we do it in our micro bakery.

If you’ve got a sourdough starter, you’re already halfway there.

Now it’s time to wake it up—and bake your first real loaf.

No shortcuts.
No guesswork.
Just simple, proven steps that actually work.

---

🐿️ Step 1: Wake Up Your Starter

Start by bringing your starter back to life.

Feed it :

• Squirrelly Girl dehydrated sourdough starter
• 50g warm water
• 50g flour

Mix until smooth, loosely cover, and leave it at room temperature.

What you’re looking for:

• Small bubbles forming
• Slight rise
• Light tangy smell

👉 That means it’s alive.

---

🔥 Step 2: Build Strength

Keep feeding once every 24 hours:

• Discard half
• Feed again (50g flour + 50g water)

Your starter is ready when:

• It doubles in size within 4–6 hours
• Looks airy and full of bubbles
• Smells clean and slightly tangy

👉 This step makes or breaks your bread.

---

🥣 Step 3: Mix Your First Dough

Ingredients:

• 100g active starter
• 350g warm water
• 500g bread flour
• 10g sea salt

Steps:

1. Mix water + starter
2. Add flour + salt
3. Mix until no dry flour remains

Cover and rest 30 minutes.

---

🤲 Step 4: Stretch & Fold

Do 4 sets total:

• Every 30 minutes
• Stretch the dough up
• Fold it over itself
• Rotate and repeat

This builds strength without kneading.

---

⏱️ Step 5: Bulk Fermentation

Let the dough rest at room temperature for 2– 4 hours.

Look for:

• Slight rise
• Air bubbles forming
• Smooth, elastic feel

👉 This is where flavor develops.

---

🔵 Step 6: Shape the Dough

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface.

Pull it toward you while rotating to create surface tension.

You want a tight, smooth ball.

---

❄️ Step 7: Cold Proof

Place dough into a floured banneton.

Cover and refrigerate:
8–12 hours (overnight)

This improves flavor and structure.

---

🔥 Step 8: Bake (Dutch Oven Method)

1. Preheat oven + Dutch oven to 450°F (232°C) for 30 minutes
2. Turn dough onto parchment
3. Score the top
4. Bake:
   • 28 minutes covered
   • 10–12 minutes uncovered

---

🍞 Your First Real Loaf

You just made real sourdough.

Not rushed.
Not fake.
Not from a packet.

This is the kind of bread that’s been made for thousands of years.

---

🐿️ Start Strong (This Matters More Than Anything)

Your results come down to one thing:

Your starter.

That’s why we built Squirrelly Girl Sourdough Starter inside our micro bakery—to give you:

✔ Strong rise
✔ Reliable results
✔ Real sourdough flavor
✔ Beginner-friendly success

👉 Start Baking with Squirrelly Girl 🐿️