The Sourdough Sidekick: Automating Starter Management for Home Bakers

The Sourdough Sidekick, co-developed with the King Arthur Baking Company, aims to simplify the sourdough baking process by automating starter management. Released in March 2025, this kitchen gadget is designed for those who bake sourdough at least once a week, helping them manage their starter with ease.

How the Sourdough Sidekick Works

At a price of $179.99, the Sourdough Sidekick is a single-purpose device that feeds your starter with flour and water based on a set schedule. Users begin by adding a small amount of existing starter — just 15g — and filling the dispensers with flour and water. The Sidekick then uses Auto mode to calculate the necessary feeding schedule, ensuring that the starter is ready for baking at the desired time.

According to the review by Dominic Preston, the device's automation allows bakers to focus on kneading and shaping their dough while it manages the starter. The Sidekick can adapt to various flour types, although users must recalibrate when switching between them.

Pros and Cons of the Sourdough Sidekick

While the Sourdough Sidekick offers several benefits, it also has limitations. Here are some key points:

• Pros: Set it and forget it starter feeding, works with most flour types, and has a flexible custom mode.
• Cons: Best suited for those who bake twice a week, core parts aren’t dishwasher-safe, and it can be noisy.

Users who don’t bake often may find the gadget frustrating, as it requires a minimum starter amount and does not have a maintenance mode for long-term storage.

Modes Available on the Sourdough Sidekick

The Sourdough Sidekick features three modes: Auto, Ratio, and Custom. Auto mode is straightforward, but it has some restrictions on starter quantity. Ratio mode offers preset ratios for feeding frequencies, but does not allow for unequal flour and water amounts. Custom mode provides the most flexibility, allowing users to specify quantities and feeding schedules.

For bakers experimenting with different flour types, the Custom mode can be particularly beneficial. It enables the creation of a starter from scratch and can accommodate various textures needed for different recipes.