If you've just brought home your very first sourdough starter, you're probably wondering what kind of sourdough container or crock you need to store your sourdough in. If you're not building your sourdough starter from scratch, your starter probably arrived in a tiny jar, plastic bag, or even as dehydrated flakes! You've fed it. But now it needs a home.
I've rounded up some beautiful and functional sourdough containers that will make the perfect home for storing your sourdough starter and discard in for years to come. Because sourdough starter really can live forever. (Did you know some of the oldest starters are over 100 years old?!). Yours deserves a nice sourdough container to thrive in.
Many of the handmade stoneware sourdough containers on this list are meant to last a lifetime — and even be handed down as heirloom gifts. They're being hand crafted by artists and artisans who spend a lot of time working on each one!
When you're feeding your starter regularly and taking care of it well, it's almost like its part of the family. You want it to have a nice home! And a high quality, hand crafted sourdough container isn't exactly cheap.
That said, there are definitely lots of budget-friendly options out there. I've included options at a range of price points and every option on this list is under $100. They make great gifts too!
the practical kitchen's favorite sourdough containers
1. These one-of-a-kind ceramic sourdough crocks by Aspen Leaf Pottery will be right at home in any kitchen (Colorado, USA) | $$$
These hand crafted ceramic sourdough crocks are lovingly made by Kristi Anderson in Colorado. No two are exactly alike. She currently has over 80 different sourdough crock designs in stock, most of which have a capacity of 28 or 30 fluid oz, perfect for storing a medium to large sized sourdough starter.
I asked Kristi to ask her how often she puts new ceramic sourdough containers up and she said she has almost 100 in her store room!
If one of the links above takes you to an error page, that just means that particular crock has been sold — but there are so many other designs, patterns, colors, and sourdough crock shapes to choose from.
Shop Aspen Leaf Pottery's sourdough containers here!
2. This elegant SOURDOUGH-stamped crock made by Dashing Ceramics says exactly what's inside (Utah, USA) | $$$-$$$$
This tall crock with a slightly tapered bottom and flat lid is a beautiful addition to any kitchen. I love that it's dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. These crocks are hand crafted by Lynessa Thompson in Utah, and come in a range of sizes from 4 cups to 1 gallon.
They're perfect for anyone maintaining a small sourdough starter, or feeding a large one! You have the option to include a personalized message on the bottom of the crock, which makes it a great gift, and it also comes in black.
Shop Dashing Ceramics' sourdough containers here!
3. Challenger Breadware's well-marked glass sourdough containers are perfect for the precision baker | $$
Challenger Breadware takes sourdough SERIOUSLY. They're best known for their brilliantly designed cast iron Challenger bread pan, but their starter jars are also a great addition to any serious sourdough baker's kitchen.
They come in two different sizes, are sold in pairs, and have well-fitting wooden lids designed specifically for sourdough starter. The markings on the side are super helpful for tracking the rise and fall of your starter so you can see exactly where it is in its feeding.
Why buy a pair of two? One is for storing your starter, the other is for feeding! Genius!
4. These dip-glazed and speckled sourdough crocks by Goblin Pottery are subtle statement pieces (Washington, USA) | $$$
Autumn Bunton makes and sells a range of beautiful, functional, handmade sourdough crocks in her Etsy shop. As of publishing, there are about 15 different designs to choose from! These are two of my favorites for their tall straight sides (easy to scrape with a spatula) and gorgeous dip-glazed design.
At just 6" tall, these hold about 16 oz of sourdough starter, perfect for a smaller sourdough starter. Autumn says she restocks her listings on a pretty regular basis and almost always has sourdough crocks on offer. And if you don't see just what you're looking for, she even takes custom orders!
5. These nature-inspired sourdough crocks with white oak leaf handles by Wild Child Clayworks are colorful af (Tennessee, USA) | $$$$
Wild Child Clayworks in Tennessee makes bold, colorful sourdough crocks that range in size from 32 to 64 oz. They have ready to ship options in a few colors and made to order options in a wide range of colors and sizes. The unique leaf handles are made by pressing real leaves into clay! How cool is that?
6. For a simple, classic sourdough crock, try this stoneware design from King Arthur Baking | $$
I have an older version of this updated classic crock from century+ old flour company, King Arthur Baking. King Arthur is an employee-owned B-corp business based in Vermont, and their products are always impeccably designed and look great in any kitchen.
This crock holds 32 oz of starter, or, if you decide not to use it for starter, can hold about 2 lbs brown sugar or 1 lb flour. KAB also offers some other designs, as well as sourdough kits which include 1 oz of King Arthur's fresh (not dried) sourdough starter which comes from a starter that's been going strong for over a century.
Buy a King Arthur Baking sourdough crock here!
7. To see all the bubbly sourdough action as it happens, try this ¾ liter Weck jar with walnut lid by Red Cedar Creative (Oregon, USA) | $$
Glass jars are always a popular choice for sourdough starter. You can see right through the clear walls to monitor the rise and fall and overall health of your sourdough.
Each of these walnut lids are handcrafted to fit the specific glass .75 liter (25 oz) Weck jar. They fit snugly enough to keep bugs out (you can even use the rubber gasket that comes with Weck jars on the lid) and has a nice lip inside to keep it from getting accidentally knocked off.
The lid is also loose enough to let gas escape as your sourdough starter feeds, meaning you don't have to worry about it exploding on you. (Always a good thing!)
Buy a glass sourdough jar with walnut lid from Red Cedar Creative here!
8. This budget-friendly Threshold medium glass jar with wooden lid from Target | $
If you're looking to stay well below the $20 mark for your sourdough container, this 48 oz glass jar with wooden lid from Target is pretty much perfect. There's a rubber gasket to keep the lid on, but not too tightly. Target sells these jars in a range of sizes, which means you can get a matching set so your sourdough starter looks right at home with the rest of your pantry.
9. This hand stamped sourdough crock comes with everything a beginner needs to make sourdough at home | $$$
Each of these Alaskan sourdough kits are packaged and shipped by Laurel Downing Bill from her Etsy shop, Aunt Phil's Trunk, in Anchorage, Alaska. The sourdough jars hold 48 ounces of sourdough starter, and are hand crafted by a local potter.
Each one comes with a small packet of dehydrated 125-year-old Alaskan sourdough starter which was originally Laurel's great-grandfather's! The kit also includes a recipe booklet (cw: it's a little bit diet focused) and a jar of Alaskan birch syrup.
10. These one-of-a-kind crocks from Bubbly Crock Pottery have a rustic, natural vibe (Minnesota, USA) | $$-$$$
These ceramic sourdough containers are hand thrown by Holly Wolfe in her 100% solar powered studio in Duluth, MN. The size varies slightly by listing and design — but they all hold about 3.5-4 cups of sourdough starter — plenty of room for all your sourdough baking needs.
Holly's designs feature homey, rustic iconography like tulips, wheat stalks, and windmills, and many utilize a mix of glazed and unglazed exterior which she says gives the crocks a "natural feel and grip" when picking it up.
I asked Holly how often she updates her listings and she said she updates her listings frequently so that her customers can always be sure that the sourdough crock in the photo is the one they will receive.
Buy a sourdough crock from Bubbly Crock Pottery here!
11. This black Kaloah stoneware container with wooden lid from West Elm | $
The slightly textured matte glazed finish and maple wood top, this 44 oz stoneware container from West Elm makes a great home for any sourdough starter. Perfect for any kitchen aesthetic that leans heavy on darker accents colors.
This is part of a larger set, so if you wanted to get a matching larger or smaller container in a complimentary color for feeding your starter you could.
Buy this Kaloh stoneware container from West Elm here!
12. You can't go wrong with a 1-qt Cambro container for your sourdough starter
Cambro containers are kitchen staples for a reason. They're super durable polycarbonate containers with clear markings on the outside, making them ideal for tracking the rise and fall of your sourdough starter.
The lids on these do seal VERY tightly, so when I use mine for sourdough I usually leave the lid slightly cracked. I wouldn't use this for long-term storage at room temperature, but if you keep your starter in the fridge this is a great option.
Buy a 1-qt Cambro container here!
13. These 32 oz glass Ball Canning jars with 2-piece lids are easy to get at Target | $
Ball's tall glass jars are great, classic sourdough containers for a reason. Glass is non-porous and easy to clean. It's also handy being able to see through the walls to check on your starter's health and activity.
They come highly recommended for keeping sourdough because of the two-piece lids which can be screwed on loosely. This makes it easy to keep anything from getting into your starter, but still leaves enough room for air and gasses to escape.
Some people even ditch the flat metal piece of the lid and replace it with layers of cheese cloth or linen to give their starter even more room to breathe.
Buy this 32 oz glass Ball canning jar here!
For more of my product roundups, reviews, and gift guides click here. For a master list of my favorite kitchen tools click here.
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