Why Sourdough Bread Needs a Starter
The gist
Sourdough bread needs a starter because it contains natural wild yeast and bacteria that help the dough rise and develop its unique flavor.
Explain like I'm 5
Making sourdough bread is like planting a tiny garden of good germs that eat the flour and make bubbles, so the bread gets fluffy and tasty.
Big picture
Using a starter instead of commercial yeast connects bakers to traditional methods and creates bread with distinctive texture and flavor that can't be easily replicated.