Sourdough from Scratch
Like Duolingo, but for Sourdough from Scratch. Tomo turns the whole topic into a game you play five minutes a day, until it actually sticks.
For the part of you with thirty open tabs that never became anything.
Free forever · No credit card · iPhone & Android
Key ideas in Sourdough from Scratch
- The source of the microorganisms in a sourdough starter
- The purpose of feeding the starter
- Carbon dioxide bubbles trapped in the starter make it buoyant
- Heat speeds up the metabolism of yeast and bacteria
- A starter that sinks is either past its peak or not active enough to lift dough
- Cold temperatures significantly slow down the fermentation process
- How temperature dictates the pace of fermentation
- Without discarding, the amount of flour needed for each feeding would grow exponentially
- The Float Test as a readiness indicator
- Keeping the total volume small makes the starter easier to manage in a home kitchen
- Discarding ensures the ratio of fresh food to old starter remains high
- The necessity of discarding starter
- Flour needs time to fully hydrate to start gluten development
- Enzymes in the flour naturally soften the dough during this rest
- A rested dough is much easier to work with and less sticky
- The benefit of the autolyse rest period
You've tried the other tabs
Thirty open tabs. Four facts you actually kept.
You watched. You nodded. By Sunday it was gone.
One answer, then back to scrolling.
Eight weeks. You meant to finish. You didn't.
Tomo gives Sourdough from Scratch the Duolingo treatment: levels, streaks, and quick quizzes that test what you just learned. That game loop is what the tabs above never had, so it's the one you actually finish.
Here's what playing it feels like
A real question from this course. Take your best guess.
What is the primary biological reason we add fresh flour to a starter?
Get it right to open this lesson and 9 more in the app.
Where Sourdough from Scratch takes you
Stop buying yeast and start a lifelong partnership with a wild starter. Learn to bake crusty, tangy loaves using nothing but flour, water, and time.
- 1
The Living Loaf
- Your Starter: The Kitchen Pet
- The No-Knead Rhythm
- 2
From Dough to Crust
- Reading and Shaping the Dough
- The Magic of Steam and Heat
2 sections · 4 units · 10 levels. Built to play, not to enroll.
You pick the voice
Sourdough from Scratch is taught in the The Professor style: clear, structured, thorough. Want a different feel? In the app you can spin up the same topic in any of Tomo's teaching styles. Same facts, totally different vibe.
More Food & Drink on Tomo
Beyond the Label: Mastering Wine
Move past the basics and learn to decode complex flavors, pair like a pro, and navigate any wine list with confidence. Discover the hidden factors that make a great bottle stand out from the rest.
Mastering Your Morning Cup
Stop settling for bitter coffee and start brewing like a pro. Learn to fix your flavor, master the Moka Pot, and unlock the science behind the world's favorite bean.
Sensory Analysis of the Roast
Move beyond basic flavor notes to master the chemical relationship between roasting heat and the sensory experience. Learn to isolate terroir from roast artifacts and calibrate your palate like a professional Q-Grader.
The Professional Barista
Move beyond basic brewing to master the precision, chemistry, and workflow of a high-end specialty coffee bar.
Decoding White and Red Wines
Move beyond 'red or white' by understanding the structural differences, winemaking techniques, and regional profiles that define your favorite bottles.
The Perfect Cup at Home
Stop settling for bitter office coffee. Learn the simple variables that transform your morning brew from a caffeine delivery system into a genuine daily highlight.
Start Sourdough from Scratch today.
Download Tomo, search Sourdough from Scratch, and play your first lesson in under a minute.