Learn how to make an einkorn sourdough starter at home with just two ingredients and a little bit of time.
Raise your hand if you love all things sourdough and have a hard time eating unfermented grains because they taste so mediocre! It’s not just me, right?
Sourdough is healthier for you, because it is breaking down all the anti-nutrients and allowing your body to absorb those nutrients found in grains more easily. But let’s face it, it is also way more delicious.
And for those who have a hard time digesting grains, sourdough can be your golden ticket to eating grains again. But what is better than regular sourdough for this? Einkorn sourdough.
Einkorn flour is more easily tolerated by those who have gluten sensitivities. It is one that doesn’t need to be fermented for better digestion, though einkorn is even easier to digest and the antioxidants present in the flour are even more bio-available.
Plus, einkorn is just a delicious flour to use. It has more of a nutty and buttery taste. Yum!
Tips:
- The absolute easiest way to create an einkorn sourdough starter is to start feeding your regular wheat sourdough starter einkorn flour. Eventually, after the fifth feeding of einkorn flour with discarding (or using), your starter will be 96% einkorn.
- Einkorn absorbs less liquid than wheat flour, so you will want to feed the starter a ratio of 1 to 1/2 flour to water. Since einkorn is a little more expensive than wheat flour or all-purpose, I feed my starter with 1/2 cup flour and 1/4 cup water.
- For making an einkorn sourdough starter, I prefer to use all-purpose einkorn flour over whole wheat. If you choose to use whole wheat einkorn, you will need a little less flour.
- Your sourdough starter should be ready to use within a week, but it may not be mature enough to bake bread for about 4 weeks.
- Don’t toss out your sourdough discard. Rather, use it to make discard recipes.
Your sourdough starter should be ready to use within a week, but it may not be mature enough to bake bread for about 4 weeks.
Why einkorn?
It is an ancient wheat that is much easier to digest and doesn’t require fermenting to break down phytic acid. It is also one of the only wheats not hybridized by modern farmers.
Most wheat today has been hybridized for better baking (aka higher protein) and better yields.
It has a higher protein content and has less starch compared to modern wheat. It also doesn’t have the same inflammatory response that refined flour can have.
Ingredients:
Einkorn flour – I prefer all-purpose einkorn flour for creating a starter. You can do whole grain einkorn for this process, but I like the results better with all-purpose flour. If you use whole grain you will need less flour starting out.
Water – Filtered, unchlorinater water. I filter my water with a Berkey water filter.
That’s it! Just two ingredients.
Tools:
Jar or bowl: This needs to be large enough for the starter to be able to double in size without spilling over. I like to use large canisters, but when you are just starting out, wide mouth mason jars work well.
Measuring cup: I use a dry measuring cup to measure out the amount of flour and use it for water, as well. Rebellious, I know.
Non-metal spoon: Some people swear that sourdough reacts to metal and doesn’t do as well. While I’ve never had an issue, I usually use a wooden spoon or a silicon spatula to stir.
FAQ:
Can I use einkorn flour in my sourdough starter?
Yes. There is a little tweaking that needs to be done since einkorn doesn’t absorb as much liquid as regular flour. So I will feed my einkorn starter a ratio of 1 to 1/2 flour to water.
Is einkorn good for sourdough?
Yes. Sourdough bread made with einkorn is absolutely delicious. The process is similar, but einkorn’s gluten structure is different, so you do not need to do the stretch and folds like regular sourdough bread. Rather, you flatten and fold.
Does einkorn flour cause inflammation?
No. Refined flour is most likely going to cause inflammation. According to this study, einkorn bread actually had an anti-inflammatory effect. (source)
How do you maintain an einkorn starter?
If you leave it out on the counter, you will want to feed it every 12 hours with a flour to water ratio of 1 to 1/2. If you are not going to be baking with it everyday, you can put it in the fridge with a lid and feed it once a week.
What is the healthiest sourdough starter?
There seems to be much debate on this. Some say whole wheat is healthiest, while others say rye, but in reality, I think it comes down to whatever flour you can afford or prefer. Sourdough products are healthier than their unfermented cousins, so choose the best quality for the flour you want to use. Whether it be einkorn, whole wheat, rye, or all-purpose, all are delicious and nutritious.
What is that gray liquid on the top of my starter?
That is known as a hooch and is an indication that you need to feed your starter more. It is harmless and can be poured out, and then you will feed your starter again.
What should a sourdough starter smell like?
A mature starter will smell yeasty and fermented. The more mature, the stronger the smell will be. If it starts to smell like vinegar, then that is an indication that it is not being fed enough.
How To Make An Einkorn Sourdough Starter
Day 1:
Mix 1/2 cup of flour and 1/4 cup filtered water.
Stir vigorously, making sure to incorporate everything well. Scrape down the sides.
Place a clean tea towel over the bowl and set aside. Allow it to sit for 24 hours.
Day 2:
Discard half of the mixture and repeat the process. Add 1/2 cup flour, 1/4 cup water, stir well, and cover.
Discarding half of the mixture is important in the early days of your starter. By day four, you would have so much sourdough starter that it would be a overflowing mess. But also, removing half ensures that you are feeding your growing colony of beneficial yeast the correct amount of flour and water. If you skipped this step, there would be too much starter and not enough food, creating a weak colony.
If you cannot fathom tossing your einkorn starter (I’m with you, especially since einkorn isn’t the cheapest flour), then use it in a discard recipe like pancakes.
Day 3-5
Repeat the day two instructions for days three through five. Discarding half, then feed.
Day 6 & 7
Every 12 hours, discard half the mixture and feed 1/2 cup flour with 1/4 cup water and mix well.
By day seven, there should be enough beneficial bacteria and yeast present to bake fermented sourdough goodies. Einkorn sourdough bread may not be able to bake for a few weeks as your starter matures.
You will know it is ready if by 4-12 hours after you feed it, it bubbles and doubles in size.
Sourdough Starter Maintenance
Sourdough starters can last multiple lifetimes and have been known to be passed down through generations. You simply need to take proper care of them, which is pretty easy to do.
If you plan to bake often, you can leave it on the counter and feed it twice a day. Otherwise it can be placed in the refrigerator.
Most people probably won’t use the starter every single day, so unless you own and operate a bakery, I would recommend storing it in the refrigerator between uses.
In the refrigerator for occasional use
By storing it in the fridge, you can feed the starter once a week and then just pull it out and feed before you plan to bake with it. Storing it in the refrigerator slows down the fermentation process, reducing the amount of feeding required.
I use my starter a couple times per week and plan bulk sourdough baking (like my bulk sourdough bread making… it’s life changing). If I plan to make something on Sunday morning, for example, I will pull my starter out of the fridge Saturday morning and feed it. By Saturday evening it is bubbly and ready to go for starting a batch of bread. Then I will feed the starter and place it back into the fridge until I need it again.
Find My Other Favorite Einkorn Recipes:
- Einkorn Cinnamon Rolls
- Einkorn Sourdough Bread
- The Best Einkorn Pie Crust
- Einkorn Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Gingerbread Cake With Einkorn Flour
If you try this recipe and love it, I would love if you gave it 5 stars! Thank you! Tag me on Instagram @farmhouseonboone.
Einkorn Sourdough Starter
Ingredients
- Einkorn flour
- Water
Instructions
Day 1:
- Mix 1/2 cup of flour and 1/4 cup filtered water.
- Stir vigorously, making sure to incorporate everything well. Scrape down the sides.
- Place a clean tea towel over the bowl and set aside. Allow it to sit for 24 hours.
Day 2:
- Discard half of the mixture and repeat the process.
- Add 1/2 cup flour, 1/4 cup water, stir well, and cover.
Day 3-5
- Repeat the day two instructions for days three through five. Discarding half, then feed.
Day 6 & 7
- Every 12 hours, discard half the mixture and feed 1/2 cup flour with 1/4 cup water and mix well.
- By day seven, there should be enough beneficial bacteria and yeast present to bake fermented sourdough goodies.
- You will know it is ready if by 4-12 hours after you feed it, it bubbles and doubles in size.
Notes
- The absolute easiest way to create an einkorn sourdough starter is to start feeding your regular wheat sourdough starter einkorn flour. Eventually, after the fifth feeding of einkorn flour with discarding (or using), your starter will be 96% einkorn.
- Einkorn absorbs less liquid than wheat flour, so you will want to feed the starter a ratio of 1 to 1/2 flour to water. Since einkorn is a little more expensive than wheat flour or all-purpose, I feed my starter with 1/2 cup flour and 1/4 cup water.
- For making an einkorn sourdough starter, I prefer to use all-purpose einkorn flour over whole wheat. If you choose to use whole wheat einkorn, you will need a little less flour.
- Your sourdough starter should be ready to use within a week, but it may not be mature enough to bake bread for about 4 weeks.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hello!
Quick question – how is the starter supposed to smell? I’m on day 4 of making it and noticed that when I was feeding it the last 2 days, it has a pretty horrible smell. Not sure if I should start over.
Thank you!!
You may notice some bad smells at first. Keep going! Eventually, it will have a sweet/yeast smell.
After the first 24 hours my starter was gray on top, no mold just gray.. I scraped that off as the discard and kept going is that ok? Also how soon can you start keeping the discard as the first few days aren’t that much volume, or do you need to use it right away/it can’t be stored? Thank you so much for all of this information!
Yes that is fine. It’s just telling you that it’s hungry and needs to be fed more. You may have to up your flour and decrease your water if you keep seeing the gray water on top.
First off, SO GRATEFUL for your blog. I have been following for years and you’re amazing! Secondly I love this post, all of the side notes about einkorn being pricier and cannot fathom throwing it out so using discard lol I totally feel you ! I’m struggling because we made the switch to einkorn, house is colder this season but I am not confident what so ever – made three loaves, and pizzas a few times and I’m just so sad ! Lol! Pancakes and etc are easy and fine but I’m struggling with being committed to einkorn entirely because of the results. I personally like whole wheat I’ve been mixing that and ap for years and like the results – have you mixed einkorn with other flours? Do you swap out flours based often? Or just use what you have on hand ?
I typically just use what I have on hand. There is a definite learning curve to einkorn, but doable! Keep going.
Does einkorn flour result in small bubbles? It’s rising & falling, smells great, but only ever has tiny bubbles. I’m so used to big bubbles in my normal all purpose wheat flour starter.
Oh and for the 4 week bread, eould I need to feed it everyday during the four weeks or can it rest in the refrigerator after the 7 days or so?
Some people can start baking bread much sooner than 4 weeks, but some people may find it necessary. You probably don’t need to feed it every day, but it will need more consistent feedings to make it strong enough.
I’m on day 5. the first day I covered my jar with a tea towel and put in the pantry but the next days I closed the jar, cookie jar with seal. Is this okay or should I be leaving it open?
It needs to have a tea towel on it so it can breath and capture the wild yeast in the air.
Hi! If I make einkorn starter from regular flour starter will it be ready to make bread sooner than if I started from scratch? Or still about the four weeks?
Yes, it should be ready much sooner.
Hi Lisa, I’m confused about how much I’m supposed to discard/feed. I’ve had an einkorn starter for almost a month now and it’s doing well: I’ve made waffles with the discard and turned out great; but for other recipes, like sourdough pancakes, I need two cups of starter. I had to work to grow my starter to the amount where I would have two cups of starter and still have some leftover. I’ve been under the impression that you always have to discard half the starter and then add flour and water that equals the amount of starter that is left. Example: I have 2 cups of active starter. If it’s out on the counter, I have to feed it every 12 hours. So I first have to discard 1 cup of it, and then feed it another cup of flour and a cup of water, so that it has enough to “feed”. If I keep doing this though, I’m going to need a much bigger bowl.. because to grow 2 cups of starter for pancakes, I would actually need to grow at least 3 cups… and then after using 2 cups in my recipe, I would have one cup left.. and I’d have to feed it another cup each of water and flour. SO: my question is, do I always have to feed the same amount of water and flour ratio to the starter so that it’s the same ratio? I really hope this makes sense… I just can’t find the answer anywhere. Thank you!
You have to feed it at least how much you have in your cup. If you need more, you can always feed it more!
So I started a sourdough starter with einkorn all purpose not realizing it is different than normal AP flour. I’ve been doin a 1:1 ratio with flour and water. The first 3 days went great. We are now on day 6 and it is not rising, watery and has hooch everyday. Should I toss everything and start over or can I salvage what I have?
Nope don’t toss it. Keep feeding it according to the directions. The hooch just means it is hungry so it needs more food.
Hello – started my started almost 24 hours ago. Mixed it very well, but now the water is just sitting on top. Is this normal?
Yes. It’s a sign that your starter needs to be fed again. Mix in the water and feed it more flour and water. Make sure you have a thicker pancake batter consistency.