Sweetening the Sourdough: Unveiling the Art of Adding Sugar to Sourdough Starter
The practice of adding sugar to sourdough starter is an age-old technique that involves introducing a small amount of sugar to the mixture of flour and water used to create sourdough. Much like a secret ingredient, this simple addition can significantly impact the flavor, fermentation process, and overall quality of the final sourdough bread. Take, for instance, the renowned San Francisco sourdough bread, its distinct tanginess perfectly balanced by a subtle sweetness attributed to the addition of sugar during the starter’s preparation.