Hi Cindy, when it comes to sourdough baking, there are no hard and fast rules about what is "better." If you ask what makes the best sourdough starter to a room full of bakers, you're bound to get dozens of answers. We prefer using this recipe to make your own sourdough starter, which uses a basic combination of whole wheat (or whole rye) flour and water to capture the wild yeast from the environment. (Sometimes adding a bit of commercial yeast to "kick start" your starter can be helpful, but it's usually not necessary.)

For storage, we like keeping the sourdough starter in a crock with a loose-fitting lid like this, but a mason jar with the lid slightly ajar works well. Avoid screwing the lid on tightly to allow some gas exchange. It sounds like your kitchen will make a cozy sourdough home. Ideal temperature for sourdough is between 68°F and 70°F. (Check out this post about growing your own starter for more details.) Kye@KAF

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