Best Sourdough Starter Jar (or Sourdough Starter Container)

Choosing the best jar for your sourdough starter is like finding the perfect partner for your baking journey. The starter container should make feeding and caring for your starter simple, and it should also be easy to clean.

Discover how to create a sourdough starter from scratch or where to purchase one online. Additionally, read about how to feed your starter to make sure it remains healthy and active, which is essential for making perfect sourdough bread.

What is the best sourdough starter jar?

When choosing a starter jar, think about these things:

• Ease of use: Your jar should be simple to discard, mix, scrape, and clean. A dishwasher-safe jar is a big plus.

• Size and stability: Opt for a sturdy, well-sized jar that is large enough to handle the starter's growth without spilling over.

• Shape and access: A jar with a wide mouth and straight sides (no shoulders) is best. This design makes it easy to see how much the starter grows.

• Material and lid: Look for glass or BPA-free plastic. The lid should close loosely or tightly, depending on your needs.

• Budget-friendly options: Repurposing jars, like those from preserves or pickles, works well and can save money.

Sourdough starter jars to choose from

Here are some popular jar options, along with their pros and cons:

• ¾-liter 743 Weck glass canning jar
  • Pros: Very strong and simple design
  • Cons: More expensive than other options
• 32 oz. Wide-mouth Ball Mason jar
  • Pros: Good size for sourdough starter
  • Cons: Tight seal makes it hard to open and close; lids can rust quickly
• Special sourdough starter kit
  • Pros: Comes with a container marked to track starter growth and a jar spatula
  • Cons: Expensive and may be harder to find than mason jars
• Ceramic or stoneware crocks
  • Pros: Eco-friendly, large capacity, and looks great in the kitchen
  • Cons: Heavy and can crack if dropped
• Recycled jars (e.g., preserves, pickle jars, Talenti gelato jars, deli containers, peanut butter jars)
  • Pros: Cost-effective and easy to find
  • Cons: Make sure plastic jars are food-safe and BPA-free

Choose the right size sourdough starter container

When choosing a jar for your sourdough starter, make sure it is tall enough for the starter to rise without spreading at the bottom. The jar should give it space to rise upward.

The jar should be about three to four times the size of your starter. Here is a quick guide to help:

Starter/Levain Weight	Starter Jar Volume
up to 70g	⅕ liter
70-150g	about 1 liter or 1 quart
150-250g	¾ liter
250-400g	about 4 liters or 4 quarts
400-1000g	about 2 liters, or 2 quarts
1000g and more	about 4 liters or 4 quart

How to clean your sourdough container

Taking care of sourdough starter can get messy, especially when it comes to cleaning your jar. Bits of starter dry up on the sides and bottom, and grooves in the jar make it difficult to clean.

Here is how to clean your jar:

• When feeding the starter, don't touch the rim of the jar. Once the starter dries, it is difficult to clean these areas.

• Use a flexible jar spatula to scrape down the sides of the jar to keep it clean and make it easier to see the starter's growth.

• After feeding, wipe the rim of the jar with a wet kitchen towel (or paper towel) and cover it loosely with a lid.

• When cleaning the jar, use the spatula to scrape out any leftover starter and throw it in the trash. Don't pour the starter down the drain to avoid clogging.

• Wipe the spatula and jar with a paper towel, then discard the paper towel along with the starter bits.

• Soak the jar in cold water. Cold water helps dissolve the flour without making it sticky or clumpy, unlike hot water.

• After soaking, wash the jar with warm, soapy water, rinse with hot water, and let it air dry.

Emily Buehler, author of Bread Science, suggests rinsing your glass jar with a baking soda solution, then hot water to remove any soap residue that could affect the live cultures.

If needed, you can run the jar through the dishwasher for a deeper clean, but try not to do it often. Dishwashing detergent residue may harm your starter. There is no need to sterilize the jar.

Should you cover or not cover your sourdough starter?

When storing your starter on the counter, cover the jar loosely with a lid to let gases escape. For refrigeration, seal the lid tightly. Avoid using fabrics like cheesecloth or paper towels, as they dry out the starter, resulting in a crusty layer on top.

Top tips

• Use a dedicated jar: Pick a jar just for your sourdough starter, or even better, have two. This keeps your starter safe from mixing with other foods and avoids accidentally using the jar for something else.

• Keep it clean: Clean your jar regularly to avoid leftover bits of starter building up. You don't have to clean it every time you feed your starter, but doing so once in a while helps keep it fresh.

• Choose the right spoon: Use a spoon made of wood or plastic, such as silicone. According to some, metal spoons can react with the sourdough's acid and change its flavor, although many bakers use them.

• Use a glass jar: The glass jar is non-reactive, meaning it will not mess with your starter. Plus, they are super easy to clean. However, accidents can happen, so always keep a backup starter in case you drop and break your jar.

• Pick a wide-mouth jar: A wide mouth makes stirring and feeding your starter much easier.

• Mark your starter's growth: Wrap a rubber band around your jar to mark where your starter starts to rise. This makes it easy to see how much it has grown.

• Choose the right lid: Use a slightly loose lid to let gases escape as the starter rises. Weck canning jars or a Mason jar's ring without the center seal work well. Remove the silicone inlay or rubber insert from the lid to allow gases to escape. For wire Bail jars, remove the rubber gasket. Alternatively, you can use a screw-top lid that can be fitted loosely or tightly.

Just between us

Through trial and error, I have learned that the best jar for sourdough starter depends on your baking habits. Durable glass jars, practical recycled options, or even fancy jars can all work. Just make sure they fit your needs.

I found that the Ball 16-oz. mason jar and the 145 ml Weck molded glass jar are perfect for building levain. At about ¼ full, they comfortably hold 120 grams of active ripe starter, enough for making a single loaf of bread.

For daily maintenance, though, those jars feel too big. I prefer using repurposed Simply Pesto and Bonne Maman preserve jars. I keep a few on hand for my sourdough starter and discard.

The Simply Pesto jar, in my opinion, is ideal for maintaining a starter. It makes my starter extra bubbly, more than any other sourdough jar I have tried.

It is probably a combination of factors, like the jar's diameter, height, and a lid that fits loosely on top. Who knows, maybe that loose-fitting lid allows just the right amount of gas to escape, creating a microenvironment that promotes stronger fermentation.

I often use a Bonne Maman jar to build levain for one loaf of bread. It is the perfect size for 35 grams of starter, fed at a 1:1:1 ratio with 35 grams of flour and 35 grams of water.

I use a 1-2 gallon glass jar or a 2- 6 quart Cambro container for baking multiple loaves.

Once again, start simple. A small jar from your pantry might be all you need to begin your sourdough journey.

And if you decide to try my favorite Simply Pesto jar, please don't hesitate to contact me. I will be happy to share the most delicious recipe using that pesto!

Let's talk sourdough

What kind of jar or container do you use for your sourdough starter? Have you found one that works better than others? Share your experience in the comments.

What's next?

Now that you know how to choose and care for a starter jar, it's time to create your own sourdough starter. If you already have one, learn about:

• How to store sourdough starter
• How to feed your starter
• How to strengthen the starter if it lacks activity