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What Is Sourdough Bread?

It’s hard to beat the aroma of freshly baked bread, especially when it’s the sweet tang of sourdough. This crusty bread has seen a recent surge in popularity—but what is sourdough and why is it so tasty? The bread has an airy texture and a distinct flavor—here’s what sets sourdough apart from other types of bread.

The History of Sourdough Bread

Bread has been around longer than many other foods, and sourdough has been around longer than most other breads—although the term “sourdough” is a newer one.

Sourdough got its start before commercial yeasts and mass production were introduced in the 19th century. Traditional recipes contained a starter, salt and flour. Although this recipe sounds fairly plain, it produces the complex, pungent flavor of sourdough that we know and love.

(Our Test Kitchen answered your burning questions about how to use sourdough starter.)

Why Is Sourdough Bread Different?

A person kneading sourdough to make a loaf homemade sourdough bread.

Unlike other yeast bread recipes that use baker’s yeast as the leavening agent, traditional sourdough recipes use a starter made of water and flour. The starter ferments over time, producing natural yeast and the slightly acidic flavor that sets sourdough apart. Sourdough bread is also known for its crusty yet airy texture.

Although sourdough bread can be relatively easy to make, it can be intimidating for new bakers because it’s more time consuming than other types of homemade bread. It’s often made by hand (instead of in a bread machine), which gives it a rustic quality.

What Makes Sourdough Sour?

The sourness of the bread comes from the acids produced in the starter. The ingredients, plus a warm environment, create a perfect storm for the starter to ferment and take on that signature sour flavor.

If you’d like to make a more sour loaf, find a cool spot for the dough to rise. Or, when mixing the starter, use a higher ratio of flour to water.

(These sourdough bread tools will help you make delicious, beautiful loaves.)

The Science of Sourdough

A mason jar full of bubbly sourdough starter.

The sourdough fermentation process happens as two naturally-occurring components of flour—yeast and lactobacillus (a type of healthy bacteria)—combine and grow over time. (Here’s how to make a quick sourdough starter, step by step.)

This bubbly starter mixture ferments for several days. It requires regular “feedings” of additional flour and water, which increase its volume. When you’re ready to use your starter, you add it to bread dough and let it rise—this produces bread that has a crusty outside and chewy inside with plenty of air pockets.

How to Make Sourdough Bread

It’s relatively easy to make your own sourdough bread at home. First, you need to make a sourdough starter (or get one from a friend). You can make a traditional starter with just flour and water (as well as patience, while those two ingredients produce natural yeast over time). However, our sourdough starter recipe uses active dry yeast to help speed the process along.

Once your sourdough starter is ready, combine it with the rest of your bread ingredients according to the recipe’s directions. There are many different sourdough bread recipes with slightly varying methods. For instance, this no-knead sourdough bread recipe uses active dry yeast to create a sourdough starter in just 48 hours.

Our Test Kitchen’s favorite sourdough loaf recipe uses a mix of sourdough starter made with active dry yeast as well as additional active dry yeast to ensure an easy rise. Our step by step guide to how to make easy sourdough bread is based on this recipe.

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Rustic Rye Bread

This gorgeous rye bread has just a touch of sweetness and the perfect amount of caraway seeds. With a crusty top and firm texture, it holds up well to sandwiches, but a pat of butter will do the job, too. —Holly Wade, Harrisonburg, Virginia
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Flaky Cheddar-Chive Biscuits

These wonderful, buttery biscuits complement any dinner. —Betsy King, Duluth, Minnesota
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Autumn Pear Bread

Pears give these little loaves delicious flavor and help keep them nice and moist. They make lovely gifts to share, too. —Mary Lynn Wilson, Linden, Texas
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Flavorful Herb Bread

This bread is one of my favorites. It has a wonderful texture and slices beautifully, and the flavor of the herbs really comes through. (Psst—If you don't have a bread machine on hand, learn how to make bread without one!) —Gerri Hamilton, Kingsville, Ontario
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Herbed Oatmeal Pan Bread

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Soft Sesame Breadsticks

Soft Sesame Breadsticks

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Vegetable & Cheese Focaccia

My family eats this flavorful bread as fast as I can make it. Sometimes I add different herbs, red onion or crumbled bacon. It's one of my best recipes! —Mary Cass, Baltimore, Maryland
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Home-Style Yeast Bread

Everyone likes the tender texture and slightly sweet taste of this homemade bread. When I'm in the mood to bake, I usually double the recipe and share loaves with friends. The dough also makes lovely rolls. -Launa Shoemaker, Landrum, South Carolina
Cornmeal Pan Rolls

Cornmeal Pan Rolls

These delightful golden rolls are always requested at Thanksgiving and Christmas. The recipe is one we’ve enjoyed for years. —Vivian Eccles, Gridley, Kansas
Caraway Seed Rye Bread

Caraway Seed Rye Bread

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Cheese & Pesto Biscuits

Cheese & Pesto Biscuits

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Butternut Squash Dinner Rolls

Butternut Squash Dinner Rolls

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Butter and Herb Loaf

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Oat Pan Rolls

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No-Knead Casserole Bread

No-Knead Casserole Bread

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Handy Sausage Biscuits

Handy Sausage Biscuits

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Sour Cream Chive Bread

Sour Cream Chive Bread

This savory loaf mildly flavored with chives is delicious when served warm with a meal, soup, salad or stew. It also tastes wonderful toasted the next day for breakfast. —Deborah Plank, West Salem, Ohio
Honey Spice Bread

Honey Spice Bread

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Yogurt Cornbread

Yogurt Cornbread

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Herb Quick Bread

Herb Quick Bread

This simple bread is especially good with soups and stews, but slices are also tasty alongside fresh green salads. The herbs make it a flavorful treat any time of the year. —Donna Roberts, Shumway, Illinois
Mom's Buttermilk Biscuits

Mom's Buttermilk Biscuits

These fluffy biscuits are so tasty slathered with butter or used to mop up every last drop of gravy off your plate. I can still see Mom pulling these tender gems out of the oven. —Vera Reid, Laramie, Wyoming
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Date Pecan Tea Bread

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Dilly Rolls

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No-Knead Knot Rolls

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Soft Buttermilk Dinner Rolls

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Honey Whole Wheat Rolls

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Overnight Yeast Rolls

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Skillet Herb Bread

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Evelyn's Sour Cream Twists

Evelyn's Sour Cream Twists

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Herb Buttermilk Dinner Rolls

Herb Buttermilk Dinner Rolls

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Elvis Banana Bread

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Extra Quick Yeast Rolls

Extra Quick Yeast Rolls

Making homemade rolls usually takes a lot of ingredients and time, but this recipe makes it so simple. They come together quickly and they freeze well too.—Eleanor Paine, Junction City, Oregon
Italian Flatbreads

Italian Flatbreads

Pairs wedges of this chewy flatbread with a tomato-based soup and start dunking! —Cynthia M. Bent, Newark, DE
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Cardamom Braid Bread

I came across this recipe in 1983 and have been making it for the holidays ever since. One year I gave away 20 loaves! —Rita Bergman, Olympia, Washington
Cornmeal Parker House Rolls

Cornmeal Parker House Rolls

My mom deserves the credit for making this recipe a family tradition. These sweet tender rolls have been on every holiday table at her house for as long as I can remember. —Lisa D. Brenner, Harrisburg, Nebraska
Pepperoni Cheese Bread

Pepperoni Cheese Bread

As a stay-at-home mother of two little girls, I pack a lot of activity into my days. The bread machine makes it a snap to turn out this attractive loaf that gets its zip from cayenne pepper, pepperoni and Mexican cheese. —Dusti Christensen, Goodridge, Minnesota
Scottish Oatmeal Rolls

Scottish Oatmeal Rolls

My family likes rolls that can hold up to scooping gravies, sauces and more. This recipe is a favorite. The oatmeal in the dough gives it a Scottish touch. —Peggy Goodrich, Enid, Oklahoma
Cardamom Twist

Cardamom Twist

This golden bread has a soft, tender texture and the perfect amount of cardamom flavor in every bite. Slices are especially good with a cream cheese spread or fresh honey butter. —Carla Miller, Pasco, Washington
Tender Whole Wheat Rolls

Tender Whole Wheat Rolls

Even though these are whole wheat rolls they have a light texture and are soft and tender. This recipe reminds me of lots of happy meals with my family.—Wilma Orlano, Carroll, Iowa
Muenster Bread

Muenster Bread

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Wild Rice Bread with Sunflower Seeds

Wild Rice Bread with Sunflower Seeds

I loved skipping the boring school cafeteria meals and going to my grandma’s house for lunch. She spent most of her life in northeastern Minnesota, which is reflected in this bread's ingredients. Now my family uses this for our holiday stuffing. —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, Colorado

Teddy Nykiel, Taste of Home Associate Digital Editor, contributed to this article.

The post What Is Sourdough Bread? appeared first on Taste of Home.



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