Bread made using sourdough has a slightly tangy flavor compared to regular yeast breads. This unique taste is a result of the lactic acid produced by the Lactobacillus bacteria. To make sourdough starters, you need Lactobacillus cultures, yeast, water, and flour. It takes a few days to develop the starter, but once it’s ready, you can add it to your favorite sourdough bread recipe.
It is important to note that sourdough takes longer to rise than yeast dough. This might pose a challenge if you’re using a bread machine. Nevertheless, I’ve come across some automatic bread machines that can help you prepare a quick sourdough loaf or a light sourdough starter within a few hours, instead of waiting for several days.
What is sourdough?
A sourdough starter is a mixture of yeasts and bacteria that is used to leaven bread. It is created by combining flour and water together. There are natural yeast and bacteria already present in the flour and in the air. Sourdough is then made by fermenting this mixture of flour and water for a few days.
Sourdough bread is leavened using wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria, rather than commercial yeast. It is known to have more nutrients, less gluten, and is easier to digest compared to regular bread.
Making your own sourdough starter from scratch is a simple process, although it requires a few days of preparation. The starter can be made with various combinations of flour and liquid, ranging from stiff to liquid batter consistency.
Overall, sourdough refers to both the bread and the starter used to make it. The process of fermentation gives sourdough its characteristic sour taste and improves its keeping qualities.
KBS Bread Machine With Setting For Sourdough
The KBS MBF-011 bread maker offers a setting called Natural Sourdough for all the sourdough enthusiasts out there. However, if you’re wondering what exactly this setting does, you won’t find a detailed description in the product manual. Instead, you’ll come across a table that lists the ingredients required for the natural sourdough setting, which include water, oil, salt, sugar, milk powder, strong flour, and yeast powder. Unfortunately, this doesn’t shed light on how the setting works or how long it takes to make a natural sourdough bread.
Some customers have mentioned that this setting allows them to make sourdough bread without using a starter, and the entire process takes about seven or eight hours. However, it’s important to note that the Natural Sourdough setting on this bread machine may not produce the exact taste of an artisanal sourdough bread loaf. Instead, it might taste more like a sourdough bread that has been quickly baked in an automatic bread machine.
Nevertheless, for those who haven’t had the opportunity to make their own sourdough loaves by hand and oven, the KBS MBF-011 bread maker can still satisfy your curiosity without the need to wait several days for a sourdough starter to be ready.
In my opinion, the KBS MBF-011 automatic bread machine has a sleek and modern design with its black exterior, tempered glass cover, and touch panel controls. It offers 17 different programs ranging from Gluten-Free and French to Whole Wheat and Sourdough. Not only that, but it also includes programs for making jam, yogurt, and cake.
The fruit and nut dispenser is a convenient feature as it automatically adds extra ingredients at the perfect time. With a maximum loaf capacity of two pounds, you can choose from three crust colors – light, medium, or dark.
What sets this bread machine apart is its unique non-stick ceramic bread pan, which is BPA, Teflon, and PTFE-free. Additionally, it comes with a 15-hour delay timer and a 1-hour automatic keep warm function.
Overall, the KBS MBF-011 automatic bread machine is user-friendly and capable of producing delicious bread loaves. You can buy the KBS MBF-011 bread machine on Amazon (paid link).
KITCHENARM Bread Machine With Sourdough Settings
The KITCHENARM 29-in-1 bread machine (model number 85203) offers numerous automatic programs. Two of these programs, number 18 (SD STARTER) and number 19 (SOURDOUGH), are specifically designed for making sourdough bread.
The machine allows you to create a sourdough starter using the SD STARTER program, and then use that starter in the sourdough bread recipe using the SOURDOUGH program. However, while the sourdough starter program seems to work well, the sourdough bread program has mixed results, with some people satisfied and others disappointed. Unfortunately, the KITCHENARM 29-in-1 bread machine does not have gluten-free sourdough recipes available. However, it does have gluten-free recipes for regular bread.
In summary, the KITCHENARM 29-in-1 bread machine can make sourdough bread using its SOURDOUGH menu. It is recommended to first make the sourdough starter using the SD STARTER program. The machine supports sourdough starters made from all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, and whole wheat rye flour. Simply follow the provided SD Starter recipes, add water, flour, and yeast, and click the START button.
If you prefer to make natural sourdough, you can use the FERMENT menu program to ferment it for a few hours and then use the BAKE menu option to bake it. With the FERMENT menu, you have control over the fermentation time and temperature. The recipe booklet includes a sourdough bread recipe with a starter, but you can also create your own recipe. Keep in mind that the resulting sourdough loaf may be denser compared to an artisanal one made by hand and baked in a large oven.
The KITCHENARM 29-in-1 bread machine stands out as one of the few automatic bread machines that offer a hands-free and oven-free sourdough starter and bread program (check price on Amazon – paid link).
Zojirushi Bread Machine For Sourdough Starter
If you’re open to considering an older model, the Zojirushi BB-CEC20 Home Bakery Supreme bread maker could still be a great choice for making a sourdough starter. This particular Zojirushi model comes with two kneading blades for better kneading and a nonstick coated rectangular baking pan that produces a traditional 2-pound bread loaf shape. It also has an LCD screen and a control panel with 10 menu settings, including options like Basic, Basic Wheat, Basic Dough, Quick, Quick Wheat, Quick Dough, Jam, Cake, Sour Dough Starter, and Home Made. Additionally, there are three crust shade options (light, medium, or dark), Home Made selection buttons for Timer and Cycle, a 13-hour delay timer, and a Start/Reset button.
With this bread machine, you can whip up a light sourdough starter in just a few hours. The Sour Dough Starter function specifically prepares a light sourdough starter in a little over 2 hours. It seems like this Zojirushi machine is quite efficient when it comes to making a quick sourdough starter. The accompanying book that comes with the unit also provides several sourdough recipes that you can try out.
The best part about this machine is that it has a recipe and cycle specifically designed for making sourdough starter on the go. You no longer have to worry about maintaining and continuously feeding a sourdough starter in a jar.
If you’re eager to make sourdough bread today, simply make the starter in the bread maker, which only takes a couple of hours. Once the starter is ready, add your sourdough recipe ingredients in the recommended order and start a regular bread cycle. You can even use Zojirushi’s starter recipe and then make their light sourdough bread recipe using the BB-CEC20 bread machine. Click here for pricing on Amazon (paid link).
Which Is The Best Bread Machine For Sourdough?
My goal was to find bread machines that have sourdough settings, and I managed to find a few examples, which I discussed earlier. However, after conducting my research, it became evident that a bread machine can never truly replicate the taste, texture, and shape of an authentic sourdough bread loaf. Nevertheless, it may be able to imitate the sour taste of a sourdough loaf.
It’s important to keep this in mind when considering purchasing a bread machine solely because it has a sourdough setting. It wouldn’t make sense to buy a bread machine just to create a sourdough starter, as this can be done inexpensively without a machine.
However, if you’re looking to buy a bread machine for baking bread or kneading dough and would like the added option of a sourdough setting, then the Zojirushi BB-CEC20 Home Bakery Supreme would be the best choice for making a light sourdough starter. If you’d like a more detailed overview of this bread machine, feel free to read my Zojirushi BB-CEC20 review.
In reality, creating a sourdough starter typically takes several days from scratch, so expecting an automatic bread machine to achieve the same results in just a few hours is probably unrealistic. Furthermore, expecting a bread machine to bake the perfect sourdough bread loaf is beyond the capabilities of any automatic bread maker.
Making Sourdough Starters Without Bread Machines
To master the art of making authentic sourdough bread, you’ll need to take matters into your own hands. Start by using a glass jar for your sourdough starter and an oven with a baking pan for the bread itself. However, if you’re truly dedicated to the craft, investing in a sourdough bread starter kit is worth considering.
One such kit is the KneadAce Pro sourdough bread starter kit, which includes a spacious jar with a convenient funnel-shaped opening for creating and storing your sourdough starter. This jar should be able to accommodate the large quantities needed for your bread-making endeavors. This starter kit is perfect for beginners looking for a tool to help them monitor their starter’s growth. It provides everything you need to begin, except for the scale, flour, and water. Plus, it comes with an elastic band labeled with the days of the week, allowing you to easily keep track of the feeding and growth of your sourdough starter.
If you’re new to sourdough baking, this kit is an excellent starting point for you. It’s a great size for a small household, although it does seem a bit pricey. Nonetheless, this sourdough starter jar is user-friendly, easy to clean, and convenient to store. It’s invaluable for creating and nourishing your sourdough starter.
Compared to other options on the market, the KneadAce Pro sourdough bread starter kit is definitely worth the investment for those who are serious about homemade sourdough. Shop now on Amazon (paid link).