Starter Feeding Calculator
Keep a healthy starter without doing arithmetic at 7 am. Choose a ratio, enter your starter, get the exact feed.
Your starter
Pick a feeding ratio, enter how much starter you keep; the calculator returns exact flour and water for the feed.
Flour to add
100 g
Water to add
100 g
Total after feed
250 g
Ratio
1:2:2
Which feeding ratio should you use?
- 1:1:1 (daily): the standard maintenance feed. Fast, predictable, and the easiest to remember.
- 1:2:2 (every other day): a slower feed that suits a fridge-stored starter or a busier schedule.
- 1:5:5 (weekly): a high-ratio feed for a starter living in the fridge between bakes.
- 1:10:10 (build): a levain-style build used a day before baking or to firm up a slack starter.
Whatever ratio you pick, the math is the same: each number is a part by weight. At 1:2:2, one part starter gets two parts flour and two parts water.
Frequently asked questions
What does a 1:2:2 feeding ratio mean?
It is the ratio of starter to flour to water by weight. At 1:2:2 with 50 g of starter you add 100 g of flour and 100 g of water, giving 250 g of freshly fed starter.
How much starter should I keep in the jar?
25 to 50 g is plenty. A small jar means less discard, lower flour cost, and a healthier ratio of fresh food to old starter at every feed.
Why does my starter get watery on top?
The dark liquid (hooch) is a hunger signal. Pour it off or stir it in, then feed at your usual ratio. A consistently runny starter needs a higher feed ratio or cooler water.