Making your own sourdough starter is as simple as combining water and flour and waiting for the naturally occurring yeast in the air to collect. Sourdough starter made with wild yeast results in flavorful loaves, and it's easy to make and maintain in the right container. Therefore, it's important to consider a few factors before selecting the best container for sourdough starter — but a clear, cylindrical canister with a wide opening is ideal.
Having a transparent container makes it easy to see when your starter has doubled in size, which is an important sign that it's ready to be used. You'll also want to make sure your container has a wide mouth that's easy scoop from, but one that can be loosely covered so the concoction can breath throughout the starting process.
Most containers for sourdough starter are made from two materials: plastic or glass.
Plastic selections can't shatter, so they're generally more durable than glass. And although some selections contain bisphenol A (BPA), there are many that don't — such as the ones listed below.
Glass: Most glass containers don't pose the risk of chemical exposure and are non-porous, meaning they won't hold onto odors. However, they're more fragile than plastic options.
That's not all, though. Some bakers also use crocks made of stoneware for sourdough starter — but those are harder to keep track of since you can't see exactly what's happening inside them.
Now, go ahead and look through the following containers and decide which ones will work best for your sourdough starter (and kitchen).
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