Feeding Ratios, Explained: 1:1:1, 1:2:2 and Beyond

A feeding ratio is written starter : flour : water. A 1:1:1 feed of 20g starter takes 20g of flour and 20g of water. Simple as that — the numbers are proportional weights, not grams.

Why it matters: the more fresh food you give your starter relative to its own mass, the longer it takes to peak. A 1:1:1 feed at 76°F peaks in about 4 hours. A 1:5:5 might take 10 hours. You aren't making it 'stronger' — you're buying time between feeds.

If you bake in the morning, feed 1:2:2 the night before at bedtime. If you bake in the afternoon, feed 1:1:1 four hours ahead. Match the ratio to the gap in your schedule and you'll never chase your starter again.

One rule: keep the flour and water weights equal (a 100% hydration starter). It's the easiest to read, the easiest to reason about, and the ratio all our recipes assume.