The King Arthur Baking Sourdough Sidekick Device Launched

A new gadget has caught the attention of sourdough enthusiasts worldwide - a device designed to maintain and care for their yeast starters with minimal effort required from the baker.

The King Arthur Baking Sourdough Sidekick is a compact appliance that ensures your starter remains healthy and active between baking sessions, eliminating the risk of missed feedings or forgotten maintenance. This hands-off approach allows bakers to focus on other tasks while their starter is taken care of.

One of the device's key features is its ability to fit discreetly on most countertops, making it a convenient addition to any home bakery. However, users have reported some drawbacks - the mixing cycle can be loud and startling, which may not suit everyone's preferences.

Customization options are available for all variables, but calibration can be a bit fiddly, especially when frequently switching between different types of flour. Despite these minor issues, many bakers will appreciate the device's ability to simplify the sourdough maintenance process.

For those who enjoy baking their own bread, maintaining a healthy sourdough starter can sometimes feel like an added responsibility - particularly for full-time working parents with busy schedules.

The King Arthur Baking Sourdough Sidekick is designed to help busy individuals maintain their sourdough starters without having to constantly feed them by hand.

This compact appliance has a built-in water reservoir and flour hopper, as well as a glass crock with a stirring-paddle lid, making it easy to use. The device can be controlled using the SmartHQ app from GE Appliances, but users have the option to forgo the app and follow the instructions in the Quick Start Guide instead.

The setup process is relatively straightforward, requiring users to fill the water reservoir and flour hopper, set a desired start time, and add a small amount of existing starter. The device will then take care of feeding and mixing the starter automatically.

One notable feature of the Sourdough Sidekick is its ability to program up to seven days in advance, allowing users to plan ahead and ensure their starter is ready when needed.

After adding some much-needed water to my under-hydrated starter, I noticed that the reservoir was still at its maximum fill line, indicating that the machine had not dispensed any water during the initial mixing process.

To rectify this situation, I decided to download the companion app for the Sourdough Sidekick. Upon doing so, I discovered that the device required a firmware update, which I promptly installed. Following the update, the machine began dispensing water during mixing, but I soon realized that I should have consulted the main instruction booklet earlier.

The manual advised using a scale to calibrate the machine's water and flour dispensers, a step that I had overlooked initially. This calibration process, although lengthy and fiddly, is only required once, which is some consolation for its inconvenience.

My next attempt at creating a sourdough starter was more successful, as the Sidekick properly dispensed 30 grams of both water and flour each day and initiated a stirring cycle every two hours. The machine's loud beep and subsequent mechanical whir were initially startling, but I soon grew accustomed to them.

The onboard controls allow users to bypass the frequent stirring cycles, but I chose to keep this feature enabled as it helps to reincorporate any unconsumed flour and knock down the starter's volume. I was pleased with the updated paddle's ability to efficiently mix the ingredients each time.

I observed that the Sourdough Sidekick's design has undergone improvements since its initial release, with the new paddle being a notable example of this evolution. Its effectiveness in incorporating all of the flour and water during mixing is impressive, and it contributes to the overall success of the machine in creating a healthy sourdough starter.

The Sourdough Sidekick's finished starter may not resemble traditional sourdough starters due to its regular mixing and lack of discard. In Auto Mode, the machine will prompt you to discard after a week, while Ratio and Custom modes have reminders for discard. This process can result in a less puffy or bubbly appearance.

However, users have reported that their finished starters still exhibit the characteristic tangy and fermented scent. Online forums are filled with advice from enthusiasts who recommend trusting the process and allowing the starter to develop naturally. Some users even suggest adding rye flour to boost the starter's growth, but this seems to make little difference in appearance or performance.

The Sourdough Sidekick app is relatively basic, offering limited functionality beyond displaying current settings and sending notifications when the starter is ready. It does not allow for adjustments or remote control of the machine. However, a recent firmware update has improved power-loss recovery capabilities, allowing the machine to recover from power outages up to 12 hours.

One notable feature of the Sourdough Sidekick app is its ability to adjust feedings based on detected room temperature. In Auto Mode, this is referred to as "temperature-aware feeding, which can help optimize the starter's development. However, users may encounter issues if their kitchen or house runs cold, as there is no way to manually adjust the starter's temperature.

The display on the Sourdough Sidekick shows ambient temperature readings, but unlike other similar devices, it does not allow for manual temperature adjustments. This could be a limitation for some users who require more precise control over their starter's environment.

Despite its limitations, the Sourdough Sidekick has proven to be an effective machine in creating healthy sourdough starters. Its ability to incorporate flour and water during mixing is particularly impressive, contributing to its overall success in developing a thriving starter culture.

The King Arthur Baking Sourdough Sidekick offers flexibility in its feeding modes, allowing users to tailor their sourdough starter maintenance to suit their baking needs. In addition to Auto Mode, Ratio Mode enables users to specify starter-flour-water feedings by ratio, while Custom Mode allows for precise control over flour and water quantities as well as feeding timing.

Users can dictate the exact flour and water amounts, allowing them to experiment with different types of bread. This flexibility is particularly useful for those who like to switch between various flours, such as all-purpose or whole wheat. The machine's ability to adapt to these changes means that users can maintain a consistent sourdough starter culture.

By the end of a typical week, the crock was approximately two-thirds full, with over 400 grams of starter ready for use. This excess can be used to make multiple loaves of bread or reserved for future batches. The machine's design also allows for easy storage and maintenance of the sourdough starter when not in use.

When not baking, users can discard most of the starter, leaving some seed" behind for the next batch. Alternatively, they can store it in the refrigerator for a few days before reviving it using traditional methods. The crock's metal lid is designed specifically for this purpose.

All removable components are dishwasher safe, making cleaning and maintenance straightforward. Users should note that if they plan to switch to a different type of flour, such as whole wheat or rye, they will need to recalibrate the machine as they did at the beginning.

The Sourdough Sidekick is a game-changer for anyone who wants to tackle sourdough baking without the hassle of maintaining a starter from scratch. This kitchen device allows users to create and maintain their own natural yeast starter within its confines, making it an ideal gift for those who bake frequently or are eager to try their hand at artisanal bread-making.

The Sidekick's ability to handle all aspects of sourdough baking, including the initial creation of a starter, has been a godsend for many users. While it may seem extravagant with a price tag that exceeds $175 compared to more traditional methods, its benefits far outweigh the costs for those who value the convenience and precision it offers.