Sourdough bread makers - how hard is it?

[Jitters22]

As someone who has had digestive issues, I find that Sourdough bread suits my metabolism extremely well. Not only that, it's bloody delicious (especially the texture) but at £1.70 a pop for a small bloomer in Tesco, I'm wondering about the possibilities of making it myself.

Anyone here make their own Sourdough and if so, can you give me your recipes and tips on how to get started?

There can be a fair bit of waste but if you search 'sourdough discard' recipes there's lots you can do with it and it keeps in the fridge for a bit. Alternatively you can keep a smaller starter (I found this a bit of a faff but some people reqlly like it - www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/a-smaller-sourdough-starter-recipe)

A good starte is really the key and somewhere warm to leave the bread. I got much better at it once I got a cup of starter (free) from local artisan sourdough bakery as my own just wasn’t strong enough. And moved to a house with an airing cupboard. I carried on feeding starter with rye flour.

There’s an easy recipe that works www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/sourdough-bread

Also, even if it goes wrong it’s not a disaster. I was trying a recipe for rolls & the dough didn’t rise, but I ended up with a pretty good flatbread .

Reviving this. I am at the start of learning to make sourdough and looking for any tips. It’s far more labour intensive than I expected and I’m wondering whether I should just buy it instead. Also don’t like how much white flour is used. Organic or not

We make a loaf a week - for Sat lunch.
We've moved to a much smaller starter - 60/60/60. That gives us 60 for the next starter, plus 100 for the loaf, and scraps in the jar. No discard to speak of. It then lives in the fridge for the week.
We set off the starter before DS1 goes to school, and he does the bulk flour and water when he gets in.
We've found it pretty forgiving on timings, but a proper proving basket makes life much easier.

It makes lovely bread, but was an esty bought starter initially.

I’ve just attended a class and need all this equipment! Proving baskets, a razor thing to make the scores , water spray, etc etc. I’ve got a starter so will try to make a loaf tomorrow. I’m not buying all the equipment until I see if the bread tastes okay. Does everyone discard part of the starter before feeding? I was not taught to do this in the class.

I have a secret dream of being a sourdough baker but I never understand the whole starter thing. Does anyone have a foolproof method for beginners?

You can buy them online or ask a good bakery for some .

Ask locally if anybody has any starter you could have? Facebook groups etc.

Freecycle is good too.