For most grocery items, basic or fancy, Trader Joe’s is the store to go. However, are bakery basics such as the sourdough starter also found in its aisles?
According to surveys and analysis of their website, Trader Joe’s is known to sell products, specifically bread that contains sourdough starter from Northern California. The bread is still available in some stores, and some, including San Francisco, have stopped selling the sourdough bread. Trader Joe’s has been a fan favorite in selling sourdough bread, but their sourdough starter has been a secret, away from the aisles.
The article below details sourdough starters, their availability at Trader Joe’s, factors that affect the dough’s presence, and more. Read on!
Understanding Sourdough Starter
Sourdough starter is one of nature’s wonders – when combined with fresh flour and water, it gives rise to the natural yeasts available to us in our surroundings. From this mix, a small portion is used during bread-making to make the dough rise.
Sourdough uses the wild yeast found in nature, giving it a path to grow and sustain itself. Sourdough starter can be passed on for more than 100 years, so it makes sense why it takes at minimum a week or two to complete.
Once the initial mixture of flour and water is active and fermenting, the starter is fed with all-purpose flour that sustains healthy bacteria and wild yeast that allow the starter to ferment. The starter is ready to use once it has increased in size and the bubbles from the carbon dioxide production are visible.
Different types of sourdough starters can be found in the market; the most common include liquid sourdough, potato flake, pasta madre, and yeast water starters, to name a few.
To check the current price and availability of Breadtopia’s Sourdough Starter, click here to view the listing on Amazon.
Trader Joe’s and Its Products
Trader Joe’s is a well-known grocery store in the US that is popular for its seasonal produce, unique products, and affordable prices at which these items are available to its customers.
Trader Joe’s offers its customers comprehensive sections and an impressive range of products. Some of the areas that the store has include:
- Foods: This section covers a range of items from the bakery section to different cheeses, dairy and eggs, dips, sauces and dressings, frozen and ready-to-cook items, and snacks and sweets.
- Protein sources: Trader Joe’s offers customers a high variability source of protein-rich meats. These include chicken and turkey, both ground and with bone; cured and uncured bacon; Italian sausages; shawarma chicken thighs; rosemary beef steak tips; gyro slices; shrimp with ginger garlic butter; and also boneless Atlantic salmon.
- Vegetarian options: Trader Joe’s offers a plant-based diet, including protein patties and Soy Chorizo. These options allow vegetarians to enjoy a protein kick while not consuming meat.
- Beverages: The store offers many well-known and unique beverage options to all those interested in purchasing them. Different wines, beers, and liquors are available, along with sparkling and still water, coffees, teas, sodas, and mixers.
- Flowers and Plants: Trader Joe’s is a place for people with a knack for gardening. They sell plantable stems of different flowers, including roses, daffodils, seasonal bouquets, and succulent skulls. You can buy ready-to-go giftable bouquets or get a mix of flowers and arrange them as you like!
- Everything else: Besides the above-mentioned list, Trader Joe’s sells various household essentials, including scented candles, reusable bags, kitchen clothes, and more. They have facial and body hygiene products, nutritional supplements, and even pet essentials!
For all things imaginable, Trader Joe’s has a solution to all your shopping concerns! Be sure to head their way; the store promises never to disappoint!
Trader Joe’s Sourdough Starter Availability
While a significant audience of Trader Joe’s might have known the sourdough starter to be available, some might be taken aback by its absence in the stores’ aisles. Several factors include the dough starter being available for customers or being removed from the shelves.
Availability firstly depends on the season, and the dough’s survival depends highly on the surrounding temperature. When buying from a supermarket such as Trader Joe’s, the starter can be available for a specific time as a seasonal or “limited offer” product.
Regional variance and store assortment can influence the availability of the dough. Trader Joe’s has stores all across the US, and the availability of sourdough can vary between the regional location of the store.
It is advised to ask the customer service representatives before buying to ensure the dough you buy is active and has recently been fed if found in the store.
Other Options for Sourdough Starter
Sourdough starters are not the most accessible item available in local bakeries and grocery stores that bake and sell their products.
A fair reason for this is to let baked goods be available for customers to purchase instead of their raw materials being sold. However, some businesses do sell their sourdough starters as well.
Some places selling sourdough starters offer deliveries to different countries, including the USA. Viewing international products, you can purchase a sourdough starter from King Arthur Flour in Norwich.
You can also buy it from Kensington Market Sourdough for $13. Use this link for more details: https://kensingtonsourdough.ca/products/150-year-old-san-francisco-sourdough-starter-super-active?variant=39508666974297
Alternative to sourdough starters, you can use commercial, instant or dry active yeast purchased from local markets to rise your homemade dough.
You can also make use of pre-ferments such as Poolish and Biga that can help your dough rise and give it a rich flavor as well.
Best Practices for Choosing a Sourdough Starter
Considering the longevity and intact taste of the sourdough, it is a must to follow certain practices before choosing a sourdough starter.
The first to consider is the flavor of the starter being used. Many starters exist, including wheat, rye, and mixed grain. The starter type to be used depends entirely on the final product you wish to attain.
The second factor to consider is the heritage and authenticity of the starter. A notable aspect of the sourdough starter is that these are passed down generations – some age even as much as 150 years!
If you are interested in maintaining a particular taste and age of a starter or even wish to pass down a starter to your future generation, knowing about the heritage proves highly beneficial.
Moreover, if you are getting a sourdough starter, it is crucial to get one from a reliable source, such as a bakery you trust, a friend ready to share, or even an online retailer.
Keep in check, however, that the starter you purchase or borrow is free of contamination, healthy, and active, most importantly.
Finally, starters are easy to maintain, provided you follow the instructions correctly. The most recurring and essential steps are the temperature at which the starter will be kept and its feeding.
Get help where you need to maintain the starter and be bold to read articles and watch videos on how a starter is maintained to stay ahead in the game.
Final Thoughts
There might be better options than obtaining a sourdough starter from Trader Joe’s. However, you can indulge in their starter’s tangy, nutty, and mildly sweet flavor by purchasing Trader Joe’s sourdough bread! It is primarily available throughout the year, so try one whenever possible.
Sourdough starters have been old showstoppers for centuries, and their magic exists and thrives to this day! If you wish to try its recipe, be sure to save some to pass on as a family heirloom.
If the starter doesn’t take birth in your kitchen, you can get some from your local market or online stores. Either way, the starter is a must-have for anyone interested in tasting fresh bread with a reputable history!
