While you can easily purchase a sourdough starter in a local store, preparing it on your own makes it more special. It’s a craft to achieve the right balance between water, flour, and wild yeast during fermentation. Aside from the ingredients, you also need the best jar for sourdough starter. This will house the starter and ensure that it will not be contaminated by other chemicals.
Below, I reviewed five of my favorite jars for sourdough starters. I also gave a quick background about this concoction for those who are yet to try it at home.
| STARTER JAR | BRAND | EXPERT RATING | CHECK PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Our Top Pick! Pakkon Wide-Mouth 1-Gallon Mason Jars |  | Check Price |
 | Mason Craft & More Kitchen Clamp Jars | | Check Price |
 | Le Parfait 3-Liter Super Jar | | Check Price |
 | Humble House SAUERKROCK Fermentation Crock |  | Check Price |
 | Bormioli Rocco Fido Vaso Jar |  | Check Price |
What is a sourdough starter?
A sourdough starter is used in bread-making. It provides better flavor, aside from making the bread fluffy and light. Bakers describe sourdough starters as an ingredient that “breathes life to bread”.
Chemically, sourdough starters have yeast microbes that consume sugars on the flour. As the microbes digest the sugars, they release carbon dioxide. In turn, the carbon dioxide produces bubbles that will make the bread fluffier and lighter. As the name suggests, the sourdough starter ignites the bread to become the fluffy treat that it is.
To create a sourdough starter, you only need to mix flour and water. The wild yeast in the air will do its job as long as you keep the container jar lightly covered. Some use a cloth or a plastic that’s been placed lightly on the lid. It should be closed lightly to let air in but sealed enough to prevent insects from getting into your starter.
Overall, sourdough starters need to ferment for 7 days before it’s ready to use. Some will take up to 2 weeks to become active.
After that, you need to keep feeding your sourdough starter to keep it active. The food is made of water and flour. Take note that you need to discard half a cup of the starter before feeding it.
Make sure that you’re using a reliable jar for your sourdough to last long. The following are five of the best sets/pieces I swear by.
5 Best Jars for Sourdough Starter in Your Kitchen
OUR #1 CHOICE
OUR TOP PICK: Pakkon Wide-Mouth 1-Gallon Mason Jars
Product Name: Pakkon Wide-Mouth 1-Gallon Mason Jars
Product Description: If you're making large servings of sourdough starters, you should get the Pakkon Wide-Mouth Mason Jars. This set is composed of four 1-gallon jars, perfect for fermenting, canning, pickling, and preserving. This is made of high-quality and crystal-clear glass. Each one is paired with airtight metal lids with a foam liner for a better seal. But if you're making sourdough starters, you can remove them and replace them with cloth or plastic. I also like its lifetime guarantee, which protects each purchase. All the jars are USDA-approved and not heat-treated. This ensures that your sourdough starters won't be contaminated.
Offer price: $$$
Availability: InStock
-
Material
-
Capacity
-
Durability
-
Value for Money
Overall
Summary
Each jar in this set is 10″ tall and 4″ wide. It has a 1-gallon capacity, which is perfect for bake shops and those who are making sourdough bread. You can also use the remaining jars for other fermented goods.
Take note that this is a heavy jar at around 36 ounces each. Make sure that you store it on a flat and stable surface to prevent breakage.
Lastly, I like the jar’s wide opening that allows measuring cups to fit in. it holds a lot of sourdough starter, and there’s enough room for it to expand.
Pros
Not heat treated
USDA-approved
Large jars for lots of sourdough starter
Cons
Very heavy jars, so be careful
RUNNERS-UP
Mason Craft & More Airtight Kitchen Clamp Jars
If you’re looking for smaller jars, you’ll never go wrong with the Mason Craft & More Airtight Kitchen Clamp Jars. It has a clamp lid paired with a rubber gasket for an airtight seal. But for sourdough starters, you can remove the silicone gaskets to let the air in.
This glass jar doesn’t discolor or leach chemicals into your sourdough starter. It’s BPA-free and chip-resistant.
For this set, you’ll receive four clamp jars with half a liter capacity. This is more than enough for small servings of sourdough starters.
I also like the vintage look of this jar, which adds a decorative touch to your countertop while you wait for the sourdough starter to ferment.
The only thing I noticed is that the silicone gasket is difficult to remove. It’s possible to remove, but you have to tinker with the tiny metal loop that holds it.
Overall, these jars are an excellent catch for their price. I use two for my sourdough starters and the other two for spices. If you need a larger jar, these Mason Craft & More containers are available in larger options of up to 3 liters.
Le Parfait 3-Liter Super Jar
The Le Parfait 3-Liter Super Jar is one of my favorite purchases so far. This massive jar can house a large amount of sourdough starter with enough space for the yeast to expand. For this package, you’ll get three jars, which is more than enough for bread-making starters.
Aside from its toxic-free glass material, these jars also have eco-friendly cushioning. If you don’t need it for your sourdough starter, you can compost it instead of throwing it into the trash bin.
Moreover, these jars bear a vintage look, which makes them a decorative addition to your countertop. It has a rounded body with a large opening to fit in scoopers and measuring spoons.
Also, I like that Le Parfait sends the jars in recyclable packaging. It’s wrapped in recycled paper and biodegradable carton boxes.
For this specific package, you’ll get three massive jars. You can use one for your sourdough starter and the others for pickles, spices, and oats.
Humble House SAUERKROCK Fermentation Crock
If you prefer using a crock for your sourdough starter, you should consider the SAUERKROCK from Humble House. It’s a 2-liter container made for fermenting food of all kinds.
It’s made of UV-blocking ceramic with a water-sealed opening. It also comes with glazed weights that are easy to clean.
Moreover, this jar’s body is finished with a glaze free of any cadmium or lead substances. Overall, this is a stylish and functional jar for your sourdough starter. It’s 6″ wide and 8″ tall, which is equivalent to four small mason jars in one batch.
Aside from the crock, you’ll also get a large sauerkraut pound, regardless of the jar size you’re going to get. This is available in 2, 5, and 10-liter sizes to suit the amount of sourdough starter you’re planning to prepare.
Take note that if you’re making a sourdough starter on this jar, you shouldn’t use the water channel seal. Simply replace it with a thin pastry cloth.
This is a cute crock jar that can be used in many ways. However, the only downside of making a sourdough starter here is you can’t see the substance expanding and activating.
Bormioli Rocco Fido Vaso Jar
My last pick for this roundup is the Bormioli Rocco Vaso Jar. This is a 125 ml jar, perfect for those who just want to try preparing small amounts of sourdough starter at a time. Take note that this is a 12-pack set that you can use to practice and experiment with the right sourdough formula.
Aside from that, this jar has a wire bale snap lock with a silicone seal. For a sourdough starter, you can remove the silicone material to let the air enter.
These are very sturdy jars and freezer-safe, too, in case you want to store your sourdough starters for long. Each jar is 3″ tall and 3.5″ wide, so it’s easily stackable on the fridge.
If you’re not going to use all the 12 jars for sourdough starters, you can utilize them for spices and herbs. It’s an aesthetic touch for your countertop.
Moreover, the glass material of these jars is lead-free for your safety. It’s also dishwasher-safe, but you need to remove the wires first.
How to choose the best jar for sourdough starter
When shopping for sourdough starter jars, you don’t really have to rack your mind. Here are the important points to consider to keep it simple:
✔️Material
Make sure that you’re getting jars with BPA-free glass. This is very important since you don’t want chemicals leaching into your sourdough starter. Also, glass jars let you see the starter expand and ferment without the need to open the lid too often.
You can also consider using ceramic jars if you’re worried about glass shards. This works, but you won’t see the starter from the outside.
Aside from that, make sure that the glass material is thick and not easily chipped. From time to time, it’s unavoidable to clunk these jars on hard surfaces. A durable jar should endure these bumps. You should still remember that glass jars aren’t invincible, so you should practice caution when handling it.
✔️Lid type
Glass jars are fitted with two types of lids: classic metal lids and clamp locks. Metal lids are foolproof options since it’s easy to put on and off the jar. You can also control how tight the lid will close since it has a thread that matches the jar’s lip.
On the other hand, clamp-style jars are also popular. This has a metal wire that shuts the lid tightly, so air won’t get in. This will work for sourdough starters, too, as long as you remove the silicone seal around the jar’s rim. This will prevent a tight seal that will deprive your sourdough starter of its much needed wild yeast from the air.
✔️Size and capacity
Next, it’s important to get the right jar size for the amount of sourdough starter you’re planning to make. Take note that sourdough starters will expand, so there should be enough space on the jar for this. Otherwise, the lid may pop off, or the jar will shatter if it’s not large enough to house the amount of starter you prepared.
Glass jars are available in a wide range of sizes, ranging from 125 ml to 3 liters. You can easily choose one that matches your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can my sourdough starter go bad?
A: Even if it’s a fermented substance, sourdough starters can still go bad. You need to store it properly to prevent the starter from spoiling. Always check for the presence of molds that usually manifests in color orange or pink streaks. Sourdough starters with molds should be disposed of and never used for bread-making.
Q: Why does my sourdough starter have water on top?
A: This is considered normal and a sign that the starter needs to be fed. The liquid you’re seeing on the surface is called ‘hooch’, which is basically alcohol accumulation due to wild yeast fermentation. A sourdough starter that’s not fed properly will have a blackish surface liquid. This isn’t always a sign of starter gone bad. You just need to care for it better with regular feeding and scooping out half a cup of old ferments.
Q: Can I add a little yeast to my sourdough starter?
A: Yes, you can add a small amount of commercial yeast to your sourdough starter to give it a boost. However, you should remember that the yeast will reduce the sour flavor of the bread. It’s a shortcut to fermentation, but it will not give the authentic sour bread flavor.
Final words
Many home chefs are fond of making their own bread. But for you to achieve the best flavor, you should try making your own sourdough starter. Just make sure that you have the best jar for sourdough starter, so it won’t go bad or become contaminated. My five picks above will not disappoint.
