Baking sourdough bread could appear pointedly old style, however that doesn’t imply it’s proof against the attract of a novelty gadget. That’s the place the Sourdough Sidekick is available in: a brand new countertop equipment that mechanically feeds your sourdough starter so it’s able to bake the second you want it.
The Sidekick is a joint venture by FirstBuild — the GE Home equipment “innovation hub” accountable for the viral Opal ice maker — and King Arthur Baking Firm. Presently elevating funds on Indiegogo, and properly previous its preliminary funding objective, the Sidekick is actually an automatic flour and water dispenser that may assist hold your starter alive while you don’t have time, and take the guesswork out of the timing to feed it to ensure it’s lively sufficient to bake with.
There’s a little bit extra to it than that although. You’ll be able to plug within the date and time of the subsequent time you intend to bake — to the hour — and the Sidekick’s Auto mode will feed the starter appropriately to ensure it’s at a peak of exercise proper while you want it, even factoring within the temperature of your kitchen. It makes use of a microfeeding schedule which solely generates discard as soon as each seven days, so it ought to cut back waste too. In the event you’re a extra superior baker with your personal particular feeding schedules and flour-to-water ratios, you’ll be able to load these into the Customized mode. You’ve additionally all the time received the choice so as to add further flour and water on the fly.
The Sidekick is accessible to again on Indiegogo for $129, or as a pair for $249. For the second it solely ships to the US, however supply isn’t estimated till January 2026 — it’s nonetheless in a prototype stage, with manufacturing fashions not but finalized. If you’d like one thing a little bit less complicated that’s accessible now, the $50 Breadwinner measures your starter’s quantity so you recognize when it wants feeding and when it’s able to bake.
