Gluten Free Sourdough Starter Recipe (2024)

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Learn how to make a gluten free sourdough starter from scratch and bake delicious gluten free sourdough bread in just 5-7 days!

Gluten Free Sourdough Starter Recipe (1)

Because of high demand, we have created this tutorial for those that have wheat sensitivities, gluten intolerance or celiac disease to be able to make your own gluten free sourdough bread.

And don't worry about bland, dry, crumbly bread. The gluten free sourdough bread recipe that we have developed makes the most soft, sliceable and delicious gluten free bread!

Gluten Free Sourdough Starter Recipe (2)

The process is very simple so let's get started!

What you'll need

The ingredients needed to make this gluten free sourdough starter are:

  • brown rice flour
  • water

We choose to use brown rice flour because it is inexpensive and readily available, but you can use any gluten free flour of your choice.

You will need measuring cups, a glass jar with a loose fitting lid and a rubber band to mark the level of starter in the jar.

How to make a gluten free sourdough starter

Day 1: Add ½ cup brown rice flour and ¼ cup of water to a clean jar. Stir, cover loosely and let it sit at room temperature for 24 hours.

Gluten Free Sourdough Starter Recipe (3)

Day 2: Stir the starter, cover loosely and let it sit at room temperature for another 24 hours.

Day 3: Add ½ cup brown rice flour and ¼ cup of water to the jar. Stir, cover loosely and let it sit at room temperature for 24 hours.

The photos below were taken on day 3 before the starter was fed. You can see lots of bubbles on the sides of the jar with very little bubbles on the surface of the starter.

Gluten Free Sourdough Starter Recipe (4)

Day 4-7: Discard half of the starter from the previous day and add ½ cup brown rice flour and ¼ cup of water to the jar. Stir, cover loosely and let it sit at room temperature for 24 hours. Use a rubber band to mark the level of the starter right after it is fed.

You should expect to see bubbles on the sides of the jar, but little to none on top of the starter.

Gluten Free Sourdough Starter Recipe (5)

The starter is ready to use for baking when it rises by 25-30% in the jar after a feeding. Depending on the temperature, this could take anywhere from 6-12 hours. Warmer temperatures will cause the starter to grow faster.

Gluten Free Sourdough Starter Recipe (6)

Tips for success

TIP 1: Sourdough starters grow best at room temperature. Somewhere around 70°F is great. If it's colder than that in your kitchen, your progress will be slower. Be patient, I promise that it will take hold if you trust the process.

TIP 2: You don't need to purchase special rice flour to feed your starter IF you have a high speed blender or a grain mill. I used my high speed blender to make flour from brown rice to get my gluten free starter going. Just blend until it is as fine as possible!

TIP 3: Cover the jar loosely. I lay the lid on the jar without securing it. The starter needs to be able to "breathe" so don't screw a lid on too tightly. You can also use a piece of thick fabric with a rubber band to secure it in place.

TIP 4: Pick morning OR night to feed your starter to make it easy to remember.

TIP 5: Save the discarded starter in a separate jar in the fridge. When there is enough, you can make gluten free sourdough discard crackers! (recipe coming soon)

How to maintain a gluten free sourdough starter

Keep the gluten free sourdough starter stored in the fridge until you are ready to bake. The night before you plan to mix your dough, remove it from the fridge and feed it the amount needed to make your gluten free sourdough recipe with. Once a week, discard half of the starter and refresh with ½ cup gluten free flour and ¼ cup water and place back into the fridge until you are ready to bake.

Gluten Free Sourdough Starter Recipe (7)

How to make Gluten Free Sourdough Starter

Learn how to make a gluten free sourdough starter from scratch and bake delicious gluten free sourdough bread in just 5-7 days!

Rate this recipe!

4.94 from 16 votes

Print Pin Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Author: Amy Duska

INGREDIENTS

  • 6 cups brown rice flour
  • water

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Day 1: Add ½ cup brown rice flour and ¼ cup of water to a clean jar. Stir, cover loosely and let it sit at room temperature for 24 hours.

  • Day 2:Stir the starter, cover loosely and let it sit at room temperature for another 24 hours.

  • Day 3:Add ½ cup brown rice flour and ¼ cup of water to the jar. Stir, cover loosely and let it sit at room temperature for 24 hours.

  • Day 4-7:Discard half of the starter from the previous day and add ½ cup brown rice flour and ¼ cup of water to the jar. Stir, cover loosely and let it sit at room temperature for 24 hours. Use a rubber band to mark the level of the starter right after it is fed. The starter is ready to use for baking when it rises by 25-30% in the jar after a feeding. Depending on the temperature, this could take anywhere from 6-12 hours. Warmer temperatures will cause the starter to grow faster.

NOTES

  • How to maintain going forward: Keep the gluten free sourdough starter stored in the fridge until you are ready to bake. The night before you plan to mix your dough, remove it from the fridge and feed it the amount needed to make your gluten free sourdough recipe with. Once a week, discard half of the starter and refresh with ½ cup gluten free flour and ¼ cup water and place back into the fridge until you are ready to bake.
  • Discarded sourdough starter can be kept in a separate container in the fridge and used to make gluten free sourdough discard recipes.
Gluten Free Sourdough Starter Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can I use gluten-free flour in my sourdough starter? ›

You'll want to use whole grain gluten-free flour – something like brown rice flour, buckwheat flour, sorghum flour, or millet flour. Do NOT use a gluten-free flour blend, which can contain starches, gums, and other additives that you don't want in your starter.

What are the best gluten free grains for sourdough? ›

*Whole grain gluten free flour options include brown rice flour, millet flour, sorghum flour, buckwheat flour, and teff flour to name a few. **See the sourdough starter recipe post for more details about how to work with the starter and get it going. Ripe starter is starter that's been fed within the past 12 hours.

Can you have sourdough when gluten-free? ›

Wheat sourdough bread may contain less gluten than regular yeast bread, but it's not gluten-free. If you're on a gluten-free diet for celiac disease, regular sourdough bread isn't safe. Instead, buy sourdough bread made with gluten-free grains or invest a few days and activate your own gluten-free sourdough starter.

Why won t my gluten-free sourdough bread rise? ›

Your bread will not rise if your yeast or baking powder has expired. A dense loaf could also be the result of not measuring your ingredients accurately. Weight measurements are best (I have to update my recipes). Otherwise scoop the flour into your measuring cup and level without shaking or packing the flour down.

How do I transition my sourdough starter to gluten-free? ›

For about two weeks, I recommend you feed your developing starter with brown rice flour only, and then after the starter reliably doubles, you'll switch to a 50:50 mix of brown rice flour and Breadtopia gluten free bread flour.

What is the healthiest flour for sourdough starter? ›

The best flour blend for creating a new sourdough starter is 50% whole-meal flour (whole wheat or whole rye) and 50% bread flour or all-purpose flour. I recommend a 50/50 mix of whole wheat flour and bread flour.

Is Ezekiel bread gluten-free? ›

Gluten Content

Although Ezekiel bread is technically flourless, it is not a gluten-free product. Those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance shouldn't eat it. There are other flourless breads that do not contain gluten.

How long does sourdough need to ferment to be gluten-free? ›

Put in the fridge for a couple of days. Long-Fermentation Rise in Fridge: For the longer fermentation process to eliminate 97% of gluten, keep your floured bowl or proofing basket in the fridge for 48-72 hours.

Is sourdough bread good for your gut? ›

Sourdough bread may be easier to digest than white bread for some people. According to some studies, sourdough bread acts as a prebiotic, which means that the fiber in the bread helps feed the “good” bacteria in your intestines. These bacteria are important for maintaining a stable, healthy digestive system.

Why does gluten not bother me in Europe? ›

Lifestyle factors may contribute to how you feel when you eat gluten when traveling abroad. In Europe, you're likely to eat fewer processed foods, smaller portions of gluten items and more fresh foods, Meyer-Jax said.

Why can gluten intolerant eat sourdough? ›

Ferment it for 7 hours or longer

Sourdough bread is transformed when it is fermented for 7 hours or longer. Then it is not only easily digested, but can often be handled by those who are gluten intolerant.

Does oatmeal have gluten? ›

Yes, pure, uncontaminated oats are gluten-free. The U. S. Food and Drug Administration considers oats a gluten-free grain under its gluten-free labeling regulations and only requires that packaged products with oats as an ingredient contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten overall.

What is the biggest challenge of making gluten-free bread? ›

One of the main challenges in making gluten-free bread is achieving the same texture and rise as traditional wheat bread.

What is the trick to making good gluten-free bread? ›

Tips and Techniques to make better Gluten Free Bread
  1. Use psyllium husk powder.
  2. Let the dough rest (not exactly the same as a bulk proof)
  3. Mix or knead thoroughly.
  4. Use less yeast.
  5. Bake in a tin with tall sides.
  6. Bake for longer, often at a lower temperature.
  7. Create steam in the oven.
  8. Use the tangzhong or scalded flour method.

What is the secret to getting gluten-free bread to rise? ›

Eggs are natural leaveners that help boost the rise and volume of bread. Eggs also add moisture, flavor, and protein to gluten-free bread recipes. If you select a gluten-free bread recipe that includes eggs, you have a better chance that the resulting bread will have good color, more volume, and softer texture.

What is the best flour for sourdough starter? ›

All-purpose Flour

It strikes a perfect balance of softness and structure, making it an ideal choice for various recipes. Due to its wide availability and affordability, all-purpose flour is often my top recommendation for creating and maintaining a sourdough starter.

What kind of flour can you feed sourdough starter? ›

All-Purpose Flour: All-purpose flour, which is a blend of hard and soft wheat, is a popular choice for feeding sourdough starter. It provides a good balance of protein and starch, which promotes a healthy fermentation process. Bread Flour: Bread flour has a higher protein content compared to all-purpose flour.

Can I use different flours in my sourdough starter? ›

Yes you can change the type of flour you feed your sourdough starter. Keep an eye on how your starter behaves after the first feeding. Keep your starter warm and regularly fed when changing flours. You don't have to feed your starter the same flour as you're using in your sourdough bread recipe.

Can you use any kind of flour to make a sourdough starter? ›

Yes, absolutely. You can create a sourdough starter with any flour in your pantry, though I find it easiest to use a portion of whole-grain rye flour to help speed up the process.

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