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Real rye sourdough. Made for your home kitchen.
$14.99
Our on-staff fermenters offer support whenever you need a hand. Get in touch.
If anything goes wrong with your culture, we'll send you a free replacement, though we don't think you'll need one. See our culture guarantee.
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Not what you expected? We offer 60-day, no-hassle returns. See our returns policy.
Never baked? Tried and flopped? You’re not starting alone. A proven starter. Clear steps. A support team one message away. Enjoy and share that first warm slice.
Photos from our sourdough baking community, across different starters and recipes.
EVERY CULTURE WE MAKE IS FOOD-SAFETY TESTED.
A MOM’S REASON. OUR STANDARD SINCE 2002.
Cultures for Health was founded in 2002 by a single mom who wanted to feed her children the best food she could.
That care still shapes what we make. Food-safety testing is a meaningful investment, and one we keep making for the families who bring our cultures home.
Start something good in your kitchen →
From packet to proud-of-it.
Sourdough takes a little patience, not a new personality. Here’s the path.
Add rye flour and water, then follow the included activation guide. Feed regularly until the starter bubbles within a few hours of feeding.
Follow a rye sourdough recipe using your active starter. You bring the ingredients and oven; we bring the guide and support.
Keep some starter, feed it, and keep baking. Bread today. Crackers, English muffins, or a new favorite next.
ONE STARTER. ENDLESS BAKES.
Keep your heirloom starter active with regular feeding and care, then try these rye sourdough recipes:
01Bake a rustic, deeply flavorful rye loaf with simple pantry ingredients and no kneading required.
Get the recipe →
02Mix your rye sourdough batter the night before, then griddle it in the morning.
Get the recipe →
03Transform your rye sourdough starter and flour into crunchy, savory seed-topped snack crackers.
Get the recipe →A little reassurance goes a long way.
Get started with 60-day, no-hassle returns. And whenever you have a sourdough question, our on-staff fermenters are here to help. Next week, next month, or next year.
See our guarantee →Rye Sourdough Starter Culture$14.99
United StatesFantastic starter! I was ready to bake a loaf within 4 days of receiving and feeding my order!
United StatesI received my sourdough starter very soon after ordering. I mixed according to the package instructions and the result at first was way too thick so I added a little more water and everything was fine (I was looking for a pancake batter consistency). I added water and whole grain rye flour at the right intervals and long story short I had tremendous success. By the 5th day my starter was trying to take over the world and I was able to take a cup of discard to make sourdough pancakes -- delicious. I am neither a baker nor the son of a baker, but CFH has made this simple and their starter is very forgiving. My next project will be an actual boule of sourdough bread.
Thank you for your feedback, Richard! We are thrilled to hear that you are enjoying working with the starter you purchased. We cannot wait to hear about your next project!
I was so excited about making my own sour dough. I made many attempts over a couple of weeks time, feeding my starter and following the recipe. Every time was a fail. Going to have to find another resource to work off of because the recipes provided from Cultures of Health did not work for me.
I just made my first loaf with the rye sourdough starter, and it tastes *amazing*. While it was slow to get the starter going, it was not difficult. Making the bread was also quite straightforward. While it didn't rise quite as much as the directions suggested, it rose more in the oven and came out well.
Before you start.
This starter is made with organic rye flour and live active cultures for making rye sourdough at home.
You’ll receive one packet of dehydrated Rye Sourdough Starter Culture with activation instructions. Activate it with rye flour and water before baking.
Use rye flour, with organic flour recommended, and water free of chlorine and fluoride. Follow the staged feedings every 12–24 hours in a warm place at 75–85°F. The guide calls for repeating the final feeding step for 3–7 days, until the starter bubbles regularly within a few hours of feeding. Read the Rye activation guide.
No. Save a portion and keep feeding and maintaining it according to the guide so you can keep baking. Reserve at least ¼ cup of active starter for ongoing maintenance.
Ingredients: organic rye flour and live active cultures. Rye contains gluten, so this starter is not gluten-free. The current listing states that it is manufactured in a facility that processes products containing gluten. Check your packet’s label and contact our team with allergen questions.
Rye flour, water free of chlorine and fluoride, a quart-size glass jar, coffee filter or tight-weave cloth, a rubber band and a mixing utensil. Flour, supplies and baking equipment are separate from the starter packet.
Keep the unopened packet in a cool, dry place and use it by the date on the bag. Once activated, the guide calls for daily feeding on the counter or feeding every 5–7 days in the refrigerator. Follow the guide for feeding ratios and building starter for a recipe.
Our on-staff fermenters can help you troubleshoot. Get in touch. Culture replacement support is subject to our culture guarantee. Ongoing support is separate from the 60-day returns period.
Free standard shipping is available on qualifying orders of $49.99 or more to the contiguous U.S. Discounts may affect eligibility. Other destinations have separate rates. Confirm shipping options and charges at checkout.
