The Sourdough Sidekick automates the boring bit of baking

July 5, 2026 Dominic Preston

Photo of the Sourdough Sidekick on a kitchen counter showing it mixing a starter
The Sourdough Sidekick was codeveloped with King Arthur Baking Company.

Baking sourdough bread is inherently old-fashioned, relying on natural fermentation and wild yeast instead of the simple, predictable commercial stuff. So it might sound anathema to bring a gadget into the mix.

The trick to the Sourdough Sidekick - backed and branded by King Arthur flour - is that it promises to automate the boring bit of sourdough baking: starter management. It feeds your starter flour and water on a set schedule, ready for exactly when you want to bake, leaving you to focus on kneading, shaping, and the actual baking.

Like any single-purpose kitchen gadget, you'll have to be confident you'll get enough use to justify b …

Read the full story at The Verge.

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