My neighbor said 'sourdough is just flour and water' and I had to bite my tongue

I was walking my dog yesterday and my neighbor, who knows I bake, asked what I was doing this weekend. I said I was feeding my starter for a new loaf. He just shrugged and said, "It's just flour and water, right? How hard can it be?" I didn't want to get into the whole thing about hydration, temperature, and the 14-day process I use to build flavor. In my experience, that simple mix is a living thing that needs real care. It made me think about how we explain our craft to people who don't bake. How do you describe your starter routine without sounding like a crazy person?

2 comments

2 Comments

lopez.karen4h ago

Oh man, "it's just flour and water" gets me every time! I usually just smile and say it's more like a low-maintenance pet. I have to remember to feed it, keep it cozy, and it even has its own schedule. If I ignore it for too long, it gets sad and hungry. That usually gets a laugh and makes it feel less like I'm explaining a science project.

julia_lee3h ago

Ugh, my friend's starter actually died last month! She forgot it on the counter during a busy week and it just gave up. That "low maintenance pet" idea is so true, it really needs that basic care.