For The Love Of Sourdough Bread
By now, you’ve probably noticed the sourdough craze that’s taken kitchens across the country by storm—and for good reason. There’s just something special about baking a beautiful, crusty loaf with your own two hands.
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re either fully on board the sourdough train or you’re just a little bit curious and wondering what all the fuss is about. Either way, you’re in the right place. Let’s dive into the heart (and joy!) of sourdough bread.
So… why sourdough? In this post, I’ll share what makes sourdough so special, answer that lingering “why sourdough?” question, and hopefully spark your excitement to begin your own journey.
This is Part 1 of a three-part series on all things sourdough. Be sure to check out the next two posts here:
Sourdough Bread: Starter, Recipe, & Rhythm
If, after you read this, you decide to move forward with baking sourdough bread, these two posts will help you on that journey!
My Sourdough Bread Journey
My love affair with sourdough began back in the ’90s when my husband and I took a trip to San Francisco. While exploring the iconic Pier 39, we had our first taste of freshly baked sourdough—and let me tell you, it was unforgettable. That golden crust and tangy chew made a lasting impression, one that etched itself onto my heart (and my taste buds) forever.
Since then, I’ve picked up loaves from the grocery store now and then, hoping to recreate that magic—but nothing ever compared to that first bite in San Fran.
For years, the thought of making sourdough from scratch never crossed my mind. Like many of you, I assumed it was far too complicated and time-consuming for an already busy life. It felt like something reserved for experts or people with way too much free time… right?
How It All Began
Fast forward to March 2020. The world shut down, and we were faced with an exorbitant amount of time in our homes, and baking bread became all the rage.
It was during the pandemic that the world seemed to rediscover the joy of home baking—and like so many others, I found myself jumping on the sourdough bandwagon. My daughter and I spent countless hours in the kitchen, experimenting with new recipes, and sourdough quickly became one of our favorites.
With more time on our hands, we embraced the slower pace and leaned into the warmth of the kitchen. In many ways, that season sparked a beautiful return to the heart of the home—where mixing, kneading, and baking became a source of comfort and connection.
There were so many people experimenting with sourdough on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and all the places. It intrigued me as I had fond memories from our trip to San Francisco.
Sourdough bread dates all the way back to 3000 BC, giving it a rich and fascinating history—which only adds to its charm. It saw a rise in popularity in the U.S. during the late 1980s and 1990s, and then made a massive comeback in 2020. Now here we are in 2024, and the sourdough love affair shows no signs of slowing down.
When we began our sourdough bread journey all I wanted was one person to tell me EVERYTHING I needed to know…LOL. Maybe that is how you feel, right now.
The Frustration Of It All
I’ll be honest—I was so frustrated. Everywhere I turned, there were different opinions, conflicting methods, and endless recipes. It was enough to make my head spin. I even bought an online course that promised to teach me everything I needed to know about sourdough.
While it had some helpful tips, I’m not sure I’d spend the money again. The whole process still felt complicated and overwhelming… and yep, my head was spinning all over again.
A couple of years ago, I wrote a complete, very long, sourdough post here on Kim Grant Home. Sourdough Bread: The What, How, and Why As I look back at it, it has the possibility of feeling overwhelming. So I’m breaking it down to simplify it!
The Sourdough Bread Break Down
When I think of cooking and baking, I love simplicity with great value. In other words, I don’t want to spend a lot of time but I want delicious food with great taste and not a lot of hassle.
The original goal was to make a good loaf of sourdough and bake it regularly for my family. At the time, I was purchasing sourdough bread almost weekly at Whole Foods.
While it was easy to buy sourdough, it wasn’t the same as making it myself. It didn’t taste as good and I didn’t feel the accomplishment of finishing something I set out to do.
Our Journey
Back in 2020, my daughter and I spent a few months—on and off—trying to master the perfect sourdough loaf. We had some successes, and a few of the loaves turned out pretty good… but they still weren’t quite what we were aiming for. Eventually, I threw in the towel.
About a year later, I resurrected the starter and went back to work. Life was returning to normal, and while my baking partner returned to school, I was determined to master the art of sourdough bread. I just couldn’t let the dream go.
What I Learned
What I discovered was that I needed to establish a rhythm. As an aside, if you are here looking for a loaf of sourdough you can whip up in an hour then sourdough bread is not for you. It is not possible.
Sourdough is a process that takes time. HOWEVER, THIS is time well spent. I want to clarify and encourage you by saying that while it does take time, it doesn’t take a lot of effort. I bake once a week. I double my recipe and make three loaves.
Getting In A Rhythm
As I shared this process with family and friends who wanted to learn and start their sourdough journey, it became clear to me that explaining the rhythm was not easy.
This motivated me to work diligently at nailing down a rhythm for myself and others. To go deeper into the rhythm, go to Sourdough Bread: Starter, Recipe, & Rhythm.
It took me two years of trial and error to finally perfect our sourdough bread. My hope is that this sourdough series helps you reach that point much faster than I did!
Most of all, I want to encourage you to enjoy the process. It may take time, but trust me—once you get the hang of it, you won’t regret a single moment.
Sourdough Bread Terminology
One of the first things I needed to do when starting my journey was to understand the terminology. You can go to the second post in this series Sourdough Bread Terminology to help you as you begin your journey.
We have been baking sourdough in our home regularly now for five years. I can’t imagine a life without it. As you can see from my pictures, we use it for many different things. Toast and jelly, avocado toast, BLTs, grilled cheese, patty melts, croutons, and so much more.
My favorite thing, besides eating it, is making it for friends and family. It brings me joy to hear how much they love it.
Are you ready to jump on the sourdough bandwagon?
Don’t stop here! You can do this! I believe in you!
Kim 🥖💛
This is part 1 of my sourdough bread series. You can find the others here:
