Sourdough technique

How to Read Levain Feeding Ratios

If you’ve spent any time lingering over sourdough recipes, you’ve probably run into those neat little numerical codes that look like 1:1:1, 1:2:2, 1:5:5, just sitting there with the quiet confidence of something that assumes you already know what it means.

To newcomers, they can feel like baker’s shorthand from a private language. But like many things in bread making, the mystery dissolves once someone pulls back the curtain. Beneath the numbers is a simple rhythm, a practical bit of kitchen arithmetic that tells you exactly how to feed and build your levain.

The core principles

In sourdough baking, levain feeding ratios are often written as 1:1:1:

starter (levain) : water : flour

So 1:1:1 = levain/starter : water : flour

Example builds:

20 g mature starter + 20 g water + 20 g flour = 60 g total levain

Other common ratios:

1:2:2 → 20 g starter + 40 g water + 40 g flour
1:1:2 → 10 g starter + 10 g water + 20 g flour

Key points:

Water is typically listed before flour due to baking convention
Ratios always describe relative parts, not total weight
Higher second and third numbers produce a larger, milder levain

The reason water comes before flour is mostly a matter of convention and consistency within the sourdough community and its recipes.

Try using a stiff levain with a 1:1:2 feeding ratio (starter:water:flour). This often produces stronger oven spring, better dough structure, and a less sticky dough that's easier to handle.

When feeding your levain overnight, use a smaller amount of starter to slow down fermentation and extend the ripening time to around 8 hours, depending on the ambient temperature. For example, a feeding ratio of 1:5:5 (starter:water:flour) can help ensure the levain reaches peak maturity by the morning without over-fermenting.

Sourdough Tip: some bakers say “levain ratio” when they mean the feed ratio, while others give a formula for the final levain build. If a recipe just says 1:1:1, assume it’s starter:water:flour unless explicitly stated otherwise.

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