Sourdough Starter Not Rising? 8 Fixes That Actually Work

Why your sourdough starter is not rising and how to fix it: temperature, flour, feeding ratio, water, the jar and patience with a young starter.

1. Your kitchen is too cold

Below about 68°F (20°C), a starter can take twice as long or longer to rise. Find a warmer spot: the oven with only the light on (check it doesn't get hotter than about 80°F), the top of the fridge, or near, not on, a warm appliance. Then check the rise again with the feeding calculator set to your real temperature.

2. It is still young

New starters often bubble wildly on days 2–3, then go quiet. That early burst is usually bacteria that don't raise bread. The yeast arrives later. Keep feeding once a day; most starters become reliable somewhere between days 7 and 14, and some take longer.

3. The feeding ratio is too big

At 1:5:5 or 1:10:10 the starter has a lot of fresh flour to work through, so it can look "dead" for the first several hours. If you are checking after four hours, drop to 1:1:1 or 1:2:2 for a few days. See feeding ratios explained.

4. The flour lacks food

Bleached flour and some very refined flours slow things down. Swap in unbleached flour and add a spoonful of whole wheat or rye.

5. The water

Heavily chlorinated tap water can slow a weak starter. Leave water out overnight, use filtered water, or try bottled spring water for a week.

6. It peaked while you were asleep

A starter that rises and falls in six hours overnight looks flat in the morning. Look for streaks on the jar above the surface. If you see them, it is working; just feed at a bigger ratio or at a different time so you catch the peak.

7. It is too wet or too stiff

A very runny starter lets gas escape, so it bubbles without rising. Try a little more flour for a few feeds (for example 1:1.2:1). Very stiff starters rise slowly; add a little water.

8. The jar is hiding the rise

A wide jar makes a big rise look small. Use a straight-sided jar and put a rubber band at the level right after feeding so you can see the change.

When to start over

Pink, orange or fuzzy mold means throw it out and start fresh. A hungry smell, hooch or a flat top does not; those are all fixable with a few regular feedings.