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(Last Updated On: August 21, 2023)Sourdough baking, along with all of it’s quirks, can be a challenge. Heck, simply keeping your starter alive and thriving without mold or any of the myriad of other problems can be a huge challenge! (Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it!)
Weather you’re a beginner or a sourdough expert, a good home (jar) for your starter is essential. Check out my top pick for the best jar for your sourdough starter – I really think you’ll love it. Not only will it make the sourdough clean-up easier, it’s a great pick to help keep your starter fresh and healthy.
Our top picks
Best Overall
WECK Tulip Jars, round bottom
Best Set with Extras
KneadAce Sourdough Starter Jar
Easy and Simple – you might already have this lying around!
Ball Wide Mouth Quart Mason Jars
Best Overall
WECK Tulip Jars
These Weck glass tulip jars are my favorite sourdough starter (and discard) jars. I love the rounded bottoms so I can *actually* scrape the starter out using a rubber spatula without leaving any behind in the corners! These jars truly make cleaning a breeze.
While they’re extremely functional, aren’t they beautiful, too? I don’t mind keeping them on my counter for a fun vintage vibe!
The other reasons this jar works perfectly to keep my sourdough starter healthy is because of its rubber gasket. You can choose to leave the gasket on loosely (which can let some of the gasses escape during fermentation), or you can take the gasket out and just set the glass lid on top allowing it to breathe while still keeping all the bad things out.
Weck has another straight-sided jar with a flat bottom if you prefer that. Many sourdough bakers also love these jars.
Best Set with Extras
KneadAce Sourdough Starter Jar
Another set that we love is the Kneadace sourdough starter jar set. Look closely – the elastic band shows dates and times, helping you keep track of feedings along with marking the starting level. The wide mouth makes it easy to stir, add and clean. The thermometer, cloth cover, and spatula are nice perks to keep an eye on the temp and keep bad things out.
As if they didn’t already think of everything, one more thing I love about the jar is that the weight is printed on the side. (If you’re like me, always forgetting the starting weight, this is great!)
Easy and Simple
Ball Wide Mouth Quart Mason Jars
You might already have access to some Ball canning jars just like these – use them! Once you decide if you’re going to continue with the “art” of sourdough bread, you can upgrade to the Weck jars, or just stick with what you have.
I started out using a Ball jar; my mom gave me a portion of her starter in one (the photo below is from my mom!), so I just grabbed another one and kept going.
Although it was a great way to start, there are a few down sides to using them. Even though it’s a wide-mouth jar, the mouth curves inward creating a small section near the top that is hard to reach. Starter loves to get stuck there. I also found that the bottom corners were hard to scrape out as well.
Even though I prefer the Weck Tulip jars because of their rounded bottoms and straight sides, Ball jars are perfectly fine to start out with.
Choosing the right jar for your sourdough starter is crucial for its success. A clear glass jar with a wide mouth and straight sides, like our top pick, the Weck canning jar, is a great option. It allows you to easily monitor your starter’s progress and makes cleaning a breeze.
However, the most important thing is to find a jar that works for you and your baking routine. With the right jar and proper care, your sourdough starter will thrive and help you bake delicious bread for years to come!
Looking for more tried-and true sourdough bread tools? Check out our favorites here — Best Sourdough Bread Making Tools: Elevate Your Baking Game!
