World Sourdough Day: A Love-Hate Relationship

Sourdough is one of those things that can feel like a passing fad, but for those who dive in, it’s a rollercoaster of triumphs and frustrations. Unlike throwing together a quick yeast bread, sourdough demands patience, precision, and a bit of luck. And honestly? It can drive you absolutely mad.

This blog is going to look at the ins and outs of sourdough, a couple of sourdough recipes for you to download, as well as a bit of a history lesson. And let’s not forget about some extraordinary tips, tricks, and suggestions to help you along the way!

The Trials and Tribulations of Sourdough

Is your starter at its peak? Is it strong enough? Did you do enough stretch and folds? Did you bulk ferment at room temperature for long enough—or maybe too long? Did you leave it in the fridge and forget about it? If something can go wrong with sourdough, trust me, I’ve been there. I’ve had flat loaves, over-proofed disasters, under-proofed bricks, and even the dreaded moldy starter.

And I’m not alone. Just ask Toni, who got so frustrated after yet another failed attempt that she hurled her moldy starter in frustration—only to accidentally send it straight through a window. That’s the kind of emotional toll sourdough can take on a person!

Sourdough has a way of making you question your life choices. One moment, you’re feeling like a world-class baker, admiring a beautifully bubbly starter, and the next, you’re staring at a dense, sad loaf wondering where it all went wrong. Maybe your dough stuck to the proofing basket and turned into a deflated mess. Maybe you forgot about your bulk ferment, and now you have an over-proofed blob threatening to ooze off your kitchen bench. Or perhaps, in a moment of sheer exhaustion, you mistook sugar for salt and now your bread tastes like a dessert experiment gone horribly wrong.

And yet, despite all the setbacks, there’s something about sourdough that keeps us coming back for more. It’s the thrill of the challenge, the satisfaction of finally getting it right, and the promise of that perfectly crisp crust and chewy crumb. But let’s be real—sometimes, it’s just sheer stubbornness that keeps us going!

Why Do We Keep Coming Back to It?

So, why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we keep coming back to a process that can be so finicky and frustrating? The answer lies in the magic of sourdough.

There’s something incredibly rewarding about nurturing a wild yeast culture and watching it grow. A good starter is like a pet—it needs regular feeding, attention, and the right environment to thrive. And when it works? That first crackling crust, that airy crumb, and the deep, complex flavour make all the struggles worth it.

Beyond the science, sourdough baking is an act of mindfulness. It forces us to slow down, to observe, and to connect with something as simple yet profound as flour and water transforming over time. In a world that often prioritises speed and convenience, sourdough is a reminder that good things take time.

There’s also a deep-rooted history and tradition in sourdough baking. Every loaf connects us to generations of bakers before us who relied on natural fermentation to create nourishing bread. The process ties us to our ancestors, our cultures, and even our communities as we share our starters, troubleshoot problems together, and celebrate our successes.

Then, there’s the simple fact that sourdough is just… better. It’s better for digestion, thanks to the fermentation process breaking down gluten and phytic acid. It’s better tasting, with its complex depth of flavors that no commercial yeast bread can match. And it’s better for the soul, giving us a sense of accomplishment and a tangible reward for our patience and effort.

Even when it fails, sourdough teaches us resilience. It reminds us to embrace imperfection, to keep learning, and to find joy in the process rather than just the end result. After all, every fallen loaf is just a lesson leading to that one perfect bake. And there is an undeniable magic in the moment you slice into a loaf and hear that unmistakable crunch of a well-baked crust—it’s like a little victory dance in bread form.

Sourdough also fosters connection. It’s something to share with family, friends, and even strangers. Passing along a bit of starter or baking a loaf for a loved one turns bread into a gesture of warmth and care. There’s a reason sourdough became so popular during times of isolation—it connects us to something bigger, to a tradition that spans centuries, and to each other.

The Art of Transformation: Life Lessons from Sourdough

Making sourdough bread is as much about patience and adaptability as it is about flour and water. At its heart lies the sourdough starter—a seemingly simple mixture of flour and water. Left to its own devices, something magical happens: natural fermentation transforms these basic ingredients into a living, breathing culture teeming with potential.

This transformation doesn’t happen overnight. The starter requires time, warmth, and care to develop. Each day, it needs feeding—more flour and water—so the wild yeast and bacteria within it can grow strong. It bubbles, rises, and matures, becoming the essential foundation for sourdough bread. Without this starter, the bread simply cannot rise.

Psychologist Carol Dweck’s work on the growth mindset parallels this process. She explains that the key to personal growth lies in nurturing our abilities over time. In her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, she emphasizes that “no matter what your ability is, effort is what ignites that ability and turns it into accomplishment.” Like the sourdough starter, our potential flourishes when consistently nurtured.

The Ingredients of Transformation

Sourdough demonstrates that transformation begins with the basics. Flour and water—humble, unassuming ingredients—hold the potential for something remarkable. Similarly, our lives are shaped by fundamental principles: resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace change.

In sourdough, the interaction between water, flour, and naturally occurring microorganisms is what creates life within the starter. In life, this interaction might be our engagement with the world—our relationships, learning experiences, and challenges. As Erik Erikson’s psychosocial development theory suggests, it’s through these interactions that we grow and develop, gaining a stronger sense of identity and purpose.

Psychological Lessons from Sourdough

1. Adaptability: Sourdough fermentation changes with the environment, teaching us to adapt. Similarly, resilience studies highlight the importance of flexibility in coping with stress. A 2020 study in Frontiers in Psychology found that adaptable individuals are better able to navigate change and maintain emotional balance.

2. Mindfulness: The slow, deliberate process of baking sourdough invites mindfulness—a focus on the present moment. Mindfulness practices have been shown to reduce anxiety and foster a sense of calm, as detailed in Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Full Catastrophe Living.

3. Community and Sharing: Many bakers share their starters with friends and family, creating connections through the process. This mirrors findings in positive psychology that emphasize the role of social support in fostering wellbeing and resilience.

By embracing the lessons of sourdough—the power of humble beginnings, the beauty of fermentation, and the strength of a solid foundation—we can navigate life’s changes with greater confidence. Transformation, like sourdough, is an art that flourishes when we nurture it with care, patience, and a willingness to embrace the process.

Sourdough and Mental Health

Now, let’s talk about the emotional side of sourdough. While it can be a source of frustration, it can also be incredibly therapeutic. The rhythmic process of kneading, stretching, and folding can be meditative. The slow nature of sourdough baking teaches patience and resilience—two qualities that are just as useful in life as they are in the kitchen.

Many people have turned to sourdough baking as a form of self-care. It provides a sense of control and accomplishment, especially in uncertain times. There’s nothing quite like pulling a successful loaf out of the oven after days of careful preparation. It’s a reminder that even after failure, success is possible with perseverance.

Beyond the act of baking, sourdough provides structure and routine. Feeding and maintaining a starter creates a ritual—something reliable to look forward to. This can be particularly beneficial for those struggling with mental health challenges, offering a tangible task with a clear reward.

The sensory experience of sourdough baking is another reason it supports well-being. The feel of the dough between your fingers, the sound of the crust crackling as it cools, the smell of fresh bread filling your home—all of these small moments create a grounding experience. Engaging in these sensory details can bring a sense of calm and mindfulness, reducing stress and fostering a deeper connection to the present moment.

Troubleshooting and Adapting

The journey from starter to sourdough is rarely perfect. A baker learns through trial and error—sometimes the dough doesn’t rise, or the crust doesn’t brown evenly. These imperfections are opportunities to refine the process, much like how we learn and grow through life’s setbacks.

As psychologist Angela Duckworth notes in Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, “Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare.” This endurance—this ability to keep nurturing the starter, to keep kneading the dough—is what ultimately leads to a successful loaf. It’s also what drives personal transformation.

Strategies for Troubleshooting

• When the Starter Won’t Bubble: Maybe it needs warmer conditions, or it hasn’t been fed consistently. Life lesson: Consistency and environment matter in nurturing growth.

• If the Dough Feels Too Dense: Try adjusting hydration levels or extending the kneading time. Life lesson:Sometimes, the solution is patience and a bit more effort.

• When the Crust is Too Hard: A simple misting of water before baking can make all the difference. Life lesson:Small tweaks can have a significant impact.

Growth Through Challenges

The beauty of sourdough—and life—is that mistakes are not failures but opportunities to learn. Each loaf, whether it turns out perfect or imperfect, teaches you something new. You learn to adapt to changing conditions, to be patient with the process, and to find joy even in the imperfect results.

“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” — Albert Einstein

When we embrace sourdough-making with this mindset, we realize that the process mirrors life’s transformations. Just as a “failed” loaf can still taste delicious, challenges in life can still hold valuable lessons.

The Value of Sourdough Discard

One of the most surprising and often overlooked aspects of sourdough baking is the concept of discard. You might wonder, why would anyone want to keep something called "discard"? Isn’t that just the stuff you throw away?

When you create a sourdough starter, you begin with a mixture of flour and water, which you feed regularly to cultivate the wild yeast and bacteria that make it thrive. As your starter grows, it needs to be fed with fresh flour and water to keep it alive and healthy. This means that, unless you’re baking several loaves of bread every day, you’ll need to discard some of the starter before each feeding to make room for the new mixture.

At first glance, "discard" seems like something you should throw away—an unnecessary byproduct of the process. But in the world of sourdough, this discard is far from waste. In fact, it’s a treasure trove of untapped potential.

Sourdough discard has the same flavor profile as your starter, just without the strength to leaven bread on its own. While it might not be powerful enough to rise your dough, its flavor is still very much alive. And instead of letting it go to waste, there are countless creative ways to use it in your kitchen—from pancakes and waffles to crackers, cakes, and even pizza dough. The options are endless, and the discard becomes an unexpected ingredient in a range of delicious recipes.

The Life Lessons of Discard

The concept of sourdough discard beautifully mirrors personal growth. Just as the discard is a byproduct of the sourdough process, in our lives, we often accumulate experiences, emotions, and lessons that seem like "waste" or things to get rid of. At times, it can feel as though the hardships we face—failures, mistakes, disappointments—are burdens to be discarded. We may look at these challenges and think they have no value, or that they are holding us back in some way.

However, when we take the time to reflect and repurpose these experiences, we find that they can lead to unexpected opportunities for growth. Just like sourdough discard, the lessons, hardships, and setbacks we go through may not always seem powerful or purposeful at first. But when we choose to view them through the lens of transformation, we can use them as the foundation for new, creative outcomes.

Life’s discard moments often feel like setbacks—those seemingly wasted times when we feel stuck or defeated. But in reality, they are part of the process that shapes us into who we are. Just as we can use sourdough discard in creative ways to make something delicious, we can use our discarded lessons and experiences to create something meaningful in our lives.

The Sourdough of Life: Growth, Resilience, and Transformation

The journey of sourdough baking is more than just a culinary craft—it’s a reflection of life itself. From nurturing a starter to troubleshooting imperfect loaves, the process teaches us patience, adaptability, and the value of small, consistent efforts.

Like a sourdough starter, personal growth requires care and persistence. Some days, progress is visible; other times, it feels like nothing is happening. But as in life, real transformation takes time. Challenges—whether a dense loaf or an unexpected setback—are opportunities to refine, learn, and improve.

The psychology of sourdough baking mirrors the psychology of resilience. Studies show that adaptability, mindfulness, and social connections strengthen our ability to navigate change. Bakers share their starters, just as we lean on our communities for support. Each step, from feeding the starter to shaping the dough, invites mindfulness—an approach that can bring calm and focus to everyday life.

Even the concept of sourdough discard offers profound lessons. What seems like waste—both in baking and in life—can often be repurposed into something valuable. Mistakes, failures, and disappointments are not just setbacks but ingredients for future success.

Ultimately, sourdough baking is an art of endurance, patience, and trust in the process. Much like life, it requires us to embrace imperfection, adapt to change, and recognize that even when things don’t go as planned, there is always something to be learned, shared, and transformed.