Bread Machine Sourdough Bread Recipe

5 from 13 votes

Total time: 3 45

This delicious bread machine sourdough bread takes under four hours from start to finish. It is a great option for anyone who loves the flavor of sourdough but doesn't have the time or patience for a traditional loaf that involves an overnight rise.

A sourdough bread machine loaf, sliced, on a silver serving tray on a gray background.

Table of Contents

Why use a bread machine for sourdough bread?
Storage instructions
Recipe FAQs
More sourdough bread recipes
Recipe card
Reviews

Why use a bread machine for sourdough bread?

For convenience. And because it's quite foolproof.

Baking with sourdough can seem like a game of chance sometimes, because there are so many factors that go into making a successful loaf, from the weather to the flour you are using to the hydration of your sourdough starter. What works for one might not work for another.

With a machine, you don't really have to worry about any of that.

While newer machines have tons of settings, including manual settings that allow you to manage the rise time, the bake time and everything in between, a big part of the charm of making bread in a bread maker, for me, is the ability to just relinquish all control. If I have to worry about figuring out the timing for this and that, what's the point of automation?

I had long been wanting to test out a sourdough loaf in the bread machine because some readers have asked for a recipe. I was pleasantly surprised. The bread was delicious, with a cheesy, rich sourdough flavor and a lovely, tight-knit crumb that makes it great for sandwiches.

You can determine the color of the crust on most models of breadmakers and I'd recommend setting it to "light." Sourdough loaves tend to have great color but can be crusty. This way you will get a decent color but a softer crust, one that will work for sandwiches. The crust will harden up if your bread lasts more than a day, but read on to see how you can freshen it up again.

Sourdough loaf inside a breadmaker basket.

Storage instructions

It's always best to consume homemade breads the day they are made, or within a day or two, as they do not contain preservatives, like store-bought breads do.

That said, this loaf lasts in the refrigerator, wrapped or bagged, for at week or so. The crust is soft the day you bake it, but it tends to harden a bit over subsequent days. If that happens, place the bread in a brown paper bag, spray the bag with water, and place in a preheated oven. Heat five to 10 minutes or until the bread feels soft and fresh again.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use sourdough discard in this loaf?

Yes. You can use a sourdough discard that was fed a week or less ago, but not one that's been sitting around in the refrigerator for a long time without feeding.

Why do I need to add yeast?

To help it rise quickly. When you make a sourdough bread, you typically need two rises, including an overnight rise, because the natural yeast in sourdough are slower to act than those in added active dry yeast. The payoff with the slow rise is great flavor, but if you're strapped for time and need a loaf in a few hours, you can't really plan on making a sourdough bread the traditional way. With this bread machine recipe you get the best of both worlds--a quick loaf with a great flavor--in a third or less of the time. Plus, you don't have to do any of the kneading, shaping, etc.

Can I make this bread with whole wheat flour?

You can try subbing a cup of the all purpose flour with whole wheat flour.

Can I make it without oil?

The oil--there are just two tablespoons in the recipe--helps keep the loaf soft. Making it without oil is possible but it will result in a crustier crust and a drier crumb.

What is the hydration of your sourdough starter?

This is an important question because it will determine how much liquid (milk) you will need in the recipe. My starter uses ¾ths cup of water for each cup of flour, and this recipe is designed for that hydration level.
If you use a sourdough starter with less or more hydration, adjust the amount of liquid accordingly.

More sourdough bread recipes

You might also enjoy these recipes for sourdough sandwich bread, one-hour sourdough bread and no-knead sourdough bread.

A chubby loaf of bread machine sourdough bread.

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