How Do I Activate a Dried Sourdough Starter?

A: Activating a dried starter is easy but requires patience. Here’s a step-by-step method to revive those starter flakes into a bubbly, active culture:

1. Rehydrate – Start by crumbling a small amount of the dried starter into room-temperature or slightly warm water. For example, combine about 5 grams of dried starter with 25 grams of warm water (~100°F/38°C) in a jar. Stir so all the dry bits are submerged, then let it sit for about 1 hour to fully soften and wake up the wild yeast and bacteria. This “soaking” stage gives the dormant starter a gentle jumpstart.
2. First Feeding – After an hour, feed the starter by adding a small amount of flour. You might add around an equal weight of flour (say 20 grams of unbleached flour) to the jar. Stir it in well. The mixture will be fairly loose or batter-like – that’s intentional. A slightly thinner (more hydrated) mixture at first can encourage microbial activity. Cover the jar loosely (a lid or plastic wrap with a vent) and keep it in a warm spot (~75–80°F if possible). Now, wait 24 hours.
3. Ongoing Feedings – In the first day or two, you may not see much action – that’s normal! Continue feeding the starter at least once every 24 hours. Each day, discard about half of the mixture (to avoid endless growth) and feed the starter fresh flour and water. Use small quantities to avoid waste. For example, on Day 2 you could take 10 grams of the starter mixture and add 25 grams flour + 25 grams water (discarding the rest). Stir, cover, and again let it ferment ~24 hours. As days go on, the starter should gradually become bubbly. Keep it at warm room temperature during this activation phase for best results.
4. Be Patient and Watch – By about 5 to 7 days, your once-dormant starter should transform into a lively, “ripe” sourdough starter ready for baking. You’ll know it’s ready when it regularly rises (doubles in volume) within several hours of feeding, has a pleasant sour yeasty smell, and looks bubbly or foamy on top and throughout. At that point, you can start using it to bake bread and switch to a normal maintenance routine (feeding it once or twice a day at room temp, or storing in the fridge and feeding weekly, depending on your needs).

Troubleshooting tip: Warmth and time are key for activation. If your house is cold (below 70°F), the starter will wake up more slowly. Try putting the jar in a slightly warmer spot – for example, near a warm appliance or in an oven with just the light on (but don’t accidentally turn the oven on!). Also, use unchlorinated water (filtered or let tap water sit out overnight) and unbleached flour to give the microbes the best environment.

Most importantly – don’t rush it. It can take several days for a dried starter to fully come back to life, so resist the urge to feed too much or too often in the very beginning. After a week of proper care, you’ll have a robust starter “pet” that can live forever and leaven many loaves of bread!