What is the Best Jar for Sourdough Starter?

Choosing the Right Container for Your Sourdough Starter

The best containers for sourdough have a few traits in common.

• Sourdough starter containers should be transparent.
• They should have straight sides.
• Choose a storage container with a wide mouth.
• You should also pay attention to the size of the container.
• The best containers should also have well-fitting lids.
• Glass storage containers are better than plastic.

New to sourdough? Visit my Sourdough Resource Center for starter care, storage methods, beginner tips and sourdough recipes.

Why Transparent Jars Are Better

The best jars are transparent allowing you to easily monitor the growth of your sourdough starter on a regular basis. Monitoring the size of your starter, its consistency, and the number of bubbles will let you know when your starter is ready to be used.

A clear container will also allow you to see if there is any hooch forming. Hooch is an alcohol by-product of the fermentation process and is an indicator that your starter is hungry and it is time to feed it again. Hooch can appear in a range of colors from clear to gray. - The Pantry Mama

You can also see if any mold is developing. Unfortunately, if you see mold developing you will need to throw out your sourdough starter or discard.

Why Straight Sides Are Better

Straight sides make it easy to track how much your starter has risen. Straight sided jars are also easier to clean.

Bonus points should be given to containers that already have measurement marks on the side. Most canning jars do.

Tip: If your container doesn't have measurement marks on the side you can use a rubber band placed around the container to track how much your starter has risen.

Why Wide-Mouth Containers Are Better

A wide mouth jar is easier to work with. They make it easy to add and remove sourdough starter or discard. Wide-mouth jars are also easier to clean.

If you're looking for something a little more stylish for your kitchen counter, I recommend this 1.5 liter Weck Tulip jars. They have wide mouths and a shape that is easy to clean.

Whatever size you choose, make sure the container has enough room for your starter to at least double without overflowing. The amount of starter you maintain can also depend on how often you bake and how you store it. Not sure which approach fits your routine? Take my Sourdough Starter Storage Quiz to find your best method.

If you temporarily need a larger container, to produce multiple loaves of sourdough bread at one time I suggest using a Cambro 6 Quart Storage Container. This large container is sturdy, which makes it a favorite in professional kitchens. It also has large, easy-to-read markings and a wide-open mouth. The BPA-free plastic makes it a lightweight option when you need to build a larger amount of starter.

The lids do seal tightly so make sure to tilt the lid slightly to allow excess gas to escape.

What Type of Lid is Best?

A lid helps prevent the top of your sourdough starter from drying out. You will also want to cover your sourdough container to help prevent mold from forming and bugs like fruit flies from landing in your sourdough starter.

A lid is also useful for preventing spills if you happen to knock your sourdough starter or discard over.

When feeding sourdough starter you want a tight fitting lid that can be loosened. As sourdough starter expands the yeast produces gas which if it has nowhere to escape will cause pressure to build up in the container and potentially cause the container to crack or burst.

I don't like jars with hinged lids as I find they get in the way when trying to pour the sourdough starter out.

Why Are Glass Containers Better Than Plastic Containers?

Always using a clean container is important when maintaining a sourdough starter. For this reason, I prefer glass containers over plastic containers.

Glass containers make for easy cleaning. They can easily be sanitized in the dishwasher to make sure they are completely clean and free from bad bacteria that can cause mold.

I prefer glass containers because they're durable, easy to clean and don't scratch or retain odors as easily as plastic. Food-safe plastic containers can also work well, particularly when you need a larger container for building a large amount of starter.

If you do choose to use a plastic container I suggest sticking to plastic containers that are made of food-grade plastic, are BPA-free, and reusable.

The only downside to a glass container is they can be broken. If that happens your sourdough discard cannot be salvaged due to unseen glass shards.

Tip: If the worse should happen and your sourdough starter becomes unusable I have successfully revived sourdough discard that was hanging out in my refrigerator.

Another good storage option for your sourdough starter is these glass jars from Challenger Breadware. They are sold in sets of two and come in two different sizes. They have tight fitting lids and helpful markings along the sides to help you track your sourdough starter's rise.

The lids do seal tightly so make sure to tilt the lid slightly to allow excess gas to escape.

What Is the Best Container for Sourdough Discard?

You don't need a special container for sourdough discard. I use the same type of container I recommend for an active starter: a wide-mouth glass canning jar with a reusable lid.

For a long time, I used a quart-sized jar for my discard. Because I don't make discard recipes as often anymore, I've switched to a 24-ounce wide-mouth canning jar, which takes up less space in my refrigerator.

Choose the size based on how quickly you accumulate and use your discard. If you make discard recipes frequently, a larger jar gives you more room. If you accumulate discard slowly, a smaller jar may be all you need.

Since discard is typically stored in the refrigerator and isn't being maintained for peak fermentation activity, you don't need as much extra room for expansion as you do with an active starter.

Sourdough Storage FAQ