Bread Maker
A practical bread maker for fresh home-baked bread with minimal effort.
Can You Make Sourdough in a Bread Maker?
Sourdough and bread makers seem like opposites - one slow and hands-on, the other quick and automatic. Here's how well they actually work together.
Quick answer
Yes, you can make sourdough in a bread maker, but with caveats. You still need an active sourdough starter, and true sourdough needs a long, slow rise that a standard quick programme doesn't allow. Bread makers with a 'sourdough' setting or a customisable programme, or using the machine just to mix and bake around a long manual proof, give the best results.
How to do it
You'll need a lively sourdough starter (the machine can't replace it). Then either use a dedicated sourdough programme if your machine has one, or use a custom/basic programme and extend the rise - some people mix and knead in the machine, let the dough proof slowly outside it, then return it to bake. A little added yeast can help if you want more reliable rise.
What to expect
Machine sourdough is convenient but usually milder and less open-crumbed than a hand-shaped, oven-baked loaf, because the long, cool ferment and steam of a real bake are hard to replicate. It's a great everyday option; for a classic artisan sourdough, hand-baking still wins.
Our top picks
#1
#2 
Moulinex OW6101
A practical bread maker for fresh home-baked bread with minimal effort.
#3 
Morphy Richards Fastbake
A practical bread maker (1.5lb loaf, 12 programmes) for fresh home-baked bread with minimal effort.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a starter for bread maker sourdough?
Yes - sourdough is leavened by a live starter, which the machine can't create. You feed and maintain a starter as usual, then use the bread maker to mix, prove and bake.
Does a bread maker have a sourdough setting?
Some do, with a longer rise suited to sourdough; many don't. On machines without one, use a custom or basic programme and extend the proving time, or proof the dough manually.
Is bread maker sourdough as good as handmade?
It's convenient and tasty but usually milder and less open in texture than a hand-shaped, oven-baked loaf. For everyday sourdough it's great; for classic artisan results, hand-baking is better.
Bottom line
Our top pick is the Bread Maker (our score 9.6/10) - A practical bread maker for fresh home-baked bread with minimal effort..