How much sourdough starter do you need to keep?

How much sourdough starter should you keep? If maintaining your starter feels overwhelming, messy, or wasteful — the problem usually isn’t your technique. It’s how much starter you’re keeping. In this video, I break down exactly how much sourdough starter you need to maintain, comparing 50g vs 200g vs 500g of starter, so you can choose the amount that actually fits your baking rhythm. Most home bakers are told to keep large amounts of starter “just in case.” But more starter means: More feedings More discard More flour wasted And more pressure to keep up Instead, I’ll show you how to keep the smallest amount of starter that supports your baking — and how to easily build more when you need it. In this video, you’ll learn: How much sourdough starter to keep for home baking The difference between 50g, 200g, and 500g starter Simple feeding ratios for an established sourdough starter When to grow starter vs store it How I personally maintain my starter for both home baking and my bakery This video is for established sourdough starters (not brand-new starters under 10 days old). If sourdough feels like too much work, this video will help you simplify the process — so baking bread feels sustainable again. 👉 Want to learn sourdough the simple way? Join the free community at www.thebreadandbutterway.com 👍 If this video helped you, please like, share, and subscribe for more real-life sourdough tips. Time Stamps 00:00 – The Real Problem with Keeping Too Much Starter 00:38 – How Much Starter Do You Actually Need? 01:12 – Who This Video Is (and Isn’t) For 01:55 – What It Really Means to “Feed” a Starter 03:05 – How Much Is Too Much to Feed a Starter? 04:40 – Option 1: Keeping 50g of Starter 06:25 – Pros & Cons of a Small Starter #sourdoughstarter #sourdoughtips #simpleSourdough #sourdoughforbeginners #homebaking #breadbaking #lowwastesourdough #thebreadandbutterway #sourdough #sourdoughdiscard