HOW LONG DOES A SOURDOUGH STARTER LAST?

A sourdough starter is a magical mixture of flour and water teeming with wild yeast and friendly bacteria. It is the staple of sourdough bread baking and the secret behind those delicious artisanal loaves. But have you ever pondered the question: how long does a sourdough starter last?

You put your heart and soul into creating and nurturing your own sourdough starter and you want to know if it will stand the test of time!

I mean, you have heard rumours about people handing down sourdough starter from generation to generation, but can that really be true?

I wanted to know the answer to these questions too, so did some research and this is what I discovered. We’ll explore the truth about the lifespan of a sourdough starter, look at the factors that influence its longevity, and I’ll also share some of the history of sourdough.

How Long Does a Sourdough Starter Last?

As long as your sourdough starter has been well looked after then it can last for years. In fact, it can last indefinitely with proper care!

By proper care, I mean how it is maintained, the environment it is stored in, and how often it is used.

Here are the three main considerations:

1. Regular Maintenance

Regular maintenance involves feeding your starter at consistent intervals, typically once a day or every 12 hours. It is like having a pet really! The feeding process involves discarding a portion of the starter and mixing the remaining portion with equal parts of fresh flour and water. These regular feedings replenish the nutrients and microorganisms necessary for fermentation.

2. Storage Conditions

The environment in which you store your sourdough starter plays a significant role in its longevity. Ideally, a starter should be kept in a warm spot, with a stable temperature typically between 21-24°C (70-75°F). It is essential that the storage methods avoid exposing it to direct sunlight or extreme heat, too.

3. Contamination

Sourdough starters can easily become contaminated with unwanted microorganisms or foreign substances. To prevent contamination with bad bacteria, the easiest way is to keep hygiene top of mind by always using clean utensils and a clean jar when working with your starter. Conversely, avoid using chlorinated or heavily treated tap water, as chlorine can inhibit the growth of beneficial microorganisms. Filtered or bottled water tend to give the best results.

When you follow the points above, your sourdough starter should remain healthy and last for a long, looong time!

Signs of a Healthy Sourdough Starter

To determine whether your sourdough starter is still viable and healthy, watch out for the following signs:

Bubbling and Activity – A healthy and active sourdough starter should be bubbly and show signs of fermentation activity within a few hours of feeding. It should also rise and fall predictably, doubling in size within 4-12 hours, and passing the float test.
Tangy Aroma – A mature sourdough starter should have a pleasant, slightly tangy aroma. It may also have a fruity or yeasty scent depending on the type of flour used.
Consistency – A well-maintained starter should have a consistent texture, neither too thick nor too thin. It should be elastic and slightly sticky. The exact consistency will depend on the hydration level and feeding ratio.
Balanced pH: A healthy starter maintains a slightly acidic pH, which inhibits the growth of harmful microorganisms. You can use a pH strip to test the acidity level of your starter if needed.
No Mould or Unexpected Colours – A healthy starter should not have mould growth or exhibit unusual colours. It should remain a creamy white or light beige colour.

MORE: How to tell if your sourdough starter has gone bad?

Now we know that a well-cared for starter can last forever, it got me thinking about the history of sourdough and more specifically what is the oldest sourdough starter in the world?!

History of Sourdough

Well, the history of sourdough is as rich and flavourful as the bread itself!

In fact, it spans many thousands of years and many different cultures making sourdough one of the oldest forms of leavened bread.

Sourdough bread’s history can be traced back to ancient civilisations around the world, where it was likely discovered by accident. Ancient bakers would mix ground grains with water to create a paste, which was then left out to ferment. Wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria from the environment naturally colonised the mixture, causing it to rise and develop a tangy flavour.

It is thought that sourdough fermentation likely dates back to ancient Egypt around 3700 BC. Here, the Egyptians used a sourdough-like starter to create loaves, as seen in hieroglyphics.

From there, it gradually spread to Europe and sourdough bread was also consumed in ancient Greece and Rome. It was at this time that the first reliable texts were written. Pliny the Elder, was a Roman historian who wrote about sourdough and, in particular backslopping. This is a technique where part of the dough from the previous day is used to make the next loaf of bread. Secondly, there are a number of references in the New Testament of the bible with both Matthew and Luke mentioning leavening.

Later, various gold rushes around the world, such as the California Gold Rush, the Australian Gold Rush, and others, contributed to the cultivation of sourdough starters with historical significance. Sourdough bread became a staple food for the settlers, mainly due to its ability to be made easily and maintained with minimal ingredients.

In fact, the sourdough starter became a cherished possession among pioneers. The mature starter was often handed down through generations and even treated as a family heirloom.

Today, sourdough bread has experienced a resurgence in popularity. This is partly due to the artisanal bread movement, partly to do with the health benefits and partly due to the increase in home baking brought about by the pandemic.

What is the oldest sourdough starter?

It is hard to provide a definitive list of the oldest sourdough starters. This is because starters are typically maintained by individuals or families who are not likely to have kept detailed historical records. They also can’t be carbon dated!

However, I have come across a few well-known sourdough starters that have gained recognition for their longevity and historical significance.

So, the winner of ‘the oldest sourdough starter award’ goes to…

*Drum roll, please*

A 4,500 year old Egyptian yeast!

As sourdough starter can be dried and rehydrated, this is exactly what Seamus Blackley, the inventor of the Xbox, did. Using ancient Egyptian pottery, that was used for bread-making at the time, a ‘nutrient solution’ was injected into the ceramic so that the yeast could be extracted. This liquid was then used to create a starter and bake a loaf!

The next oldest is the Boudin Bakery Starter. The Boudin Bakery in San Francisco is famous for its sourdough bread and has a starter with a history dating back to 1849. This makes it one of the oldest and most renowned in the USA and the world.

In recent years, with the rise of artisanal and homemade food products, people have started selling portions of their historic sourdough starters on online marketplaces like Etsy and Ebay. Here you will find many more old starters as sellers often provide documentation and storytelling about the origins of the sourdough starter that they are selling. This information adds value to the purchase, as buyers not only acquire a piece of living history but also gain insights into the cultural and culinary heritage associated with the starter.

It is important to note that the ages of these starters are often based on oral tradition and family lore rather than concrete historical records. While they are considered historic and valuable within their respective communities, precise dating can be challenging.

Nonetheless, there is a place in Belgium that has started to catalogue sourdough starter and create a ‘library’, if you will. The Puratos Sourdough Library is a valuable resource for the baking industry and sourdough enthusiasts alike. It houses a diverse collection of sourdough starters, including some of the oldest in the world.

One of the primary purposes of the library is to preserve the biodiversity of sourdough since the starters are living organisms, and their microbial composition can change over time. So, by storing and maintaining a wide range of sourdough starters, the library helps safeguard the genetic diversity of these cultures.

It also supports research and development, encourages collaboration, and serves as an educational platform. Ultimately, it plays a crucial role in advancing the art and science of sourdough baking while preserving the traditions and flavours of this culinary practice.

So, as you can see, there can be no definitive list of the oldest sourdough starters in the world because there is no scientific way to verify them. They are constantly changing and being refreshed anyway!

As the sourdough starter is constantly changing and being added to, can you even say that the ancient starter still exists?

How the Ship of Thesius relates to Sourdough Starters

This got me thinking about the “Ship of Theseus” thought experiment, also known as Theseus’s paradox which raises questions about the identity and persistence of an object when its components are gradually replaced over time.

We can use this analogy in the context of a sourdough starter that you have been using for several years or even one that has been passed down the generations. This starter, like the Ship of Theseus, undergoes a gradual transformation over time.

Let’s say you initially created the sourdough starter by mixing flour and water, capturing wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria from your environment. This original starter represents the “Ship of Theseus” in its original form.

To keep the sourdough starter active and healthy, you regularly feed it by discarding a portion and adding fresh flour and water. Over time, some of the original microorganisms may die off, and new ones from the environment may join the mix. This process is akin to replacing parts of the ship as they age or wear out.

Therefore, it poses the question of whether the original starter is still the original starter after so much transformation.

If you think about it, the essence of the sourdough starter, like the Ship of Theseus, persists through this process of renewal. While individual microorganisms may change, the overall character and behavior of the starter remain consistent. It continues to leaven your bread with its unique flavour and texture, just as the ship maintains its identity despite component replacements.

Your sourdough starter will also gain historical significance over time, much like the Ship of Theseus becomes a symbol of history and tradition. It embodies the knowledge and practices passed down through generations of bakers.

Therefore, the concept of the Ship of Theseus helps us to understand how a sourdough starter can endure for years while undergoing regular transformations.

While the individual microorganisms in the starter may change through refreshment, the overall character and tradition of the starter persist, making it a symbol of culinary history and tradition.

Just as the ship remains Theseus’s ship despite the replacement of its parts, your sourdough starter remains a cherished part of your baking tradition despite the renewal of its microbial composition.

Final thoughts on how long a sourdough starter lasts

As we have seen, a sourdough starter can last indefinitely with proper care and maintenance.

So, don’t let your starter go to waste – nurture it, experiment with it, and let it be your trusted companion on your sourdough journey for years to come.