Today’s Solutions: March 27, 2023

If your local grocery store is out of yeast, don’t panic! You can make your own baking yeast at home in your own kitchen with ingredients you probably already have on hand. We call bread made with wild homemade yeast “sourdough,” but this at-home version isn’t just for tangy bread. It can be substituted in for packet yeast in pretty much any recipe.

So what is it? Wild yeast captures bacteria already hanging around your kitchen and can be created and fed with a simple combination of flour and water. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1

Mix together equal parts of water and flour in a small bowl. It is best to measure out equal parts with a kitchen scale, but if you don’t have one, a quarter cup of each works too.

Step 2

Cover the bowl loosely with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Store it in a warm area of your kitchen away from drafts such as open windows or doors. This will help the yeast grow quickly.

Step 3

Feed your starter two tablespoons each of water and flour twice daily, in the morning and evening. After three to five days your starter should double in size and begin to bubble. It should also have a slightly sour smell. 

Once your starter is mature, you’re ready to start baking! Look for sourdough versions of all your favorite recipes like bread, bagels, pastries, and even pancakes. If you’ve run out of yeast or simply want to add a little homemade flair to your baking, take a stab at making your own wild sourdough yeast this week!

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

Removable solar panels might soon be rolled out on railway tracks

Solar panels are being laid out "like carpet" across Swiss train rails as part of the country's renewable energy initiative. Swiss startup company Sun-Ways ...

Read More

What cities can learn from Spokane’s approach to homelessness

The common approach cities take to deal with homelessness is tough enforcement: ticketing people for panhandling or sleeping in doorways or busing them to ...

Read More

How to have a conversation with someone you disagree with

Recent events in the United States underscore a deep trend towards polarization that is spreading throughout the country. As current events bring up strong ...

Read More

Eat this amount of fruit daily to significantly lower diabetes risk

As you may already know, fruit is an excellent source of essential vitamins and minerals. A recent study, however, shows that just the right ...

Read More