SOURDOUGH C R A Z E BY KATIE FINCH WELLNESS + BEAUTY You don’t have to look far to see or hear the word “sourdough” in Charleston. It seems to be the bread of the moment, and we are here for it. From home kitchens to farmers markets to boutique cafes, Charleston is full of bakers who are embracing the sourdough culture that centers around cleaner ingredients and better nutrition. But that poses the question: Is sourdough actually healthier for us, or will this just be another fad that slowly dies down? We sat down with Milled co-founders Erica Elmenhurst and Katie Ratliff to pick their brains about the sourdough craze. First things first, what makes sourdough different than traditional grocery store loaves? Elmenhurst explained, “Most grocery store bread is designed for speed and consistency. Authentic sourdough relies on time. That long fermentation develops flavor, texture and many of the qualities people appreciate about sourdough. The ingredient list is usually the biggest clue. Authentic sourdough should have a relatively simple ingredient list. Many commercial products use commercial yeast as the primary leavening agent and then add ingredients to mimic sourdough flavor.” And this shorter ingredient list is the key that makes sourdough a ‘better for us’ bread. Speaking of health, what makes sourdough healthier than traditional breads? Ratliff noted, “Just because a loaf says ‘sourdough’ on the label doesn’t mean it was naturally fermented for a long period of time. At Milled, we take it a step further by using freshly milled whole grains. That means more fiber, more flavor and more of the naturally occurring nutrients found in the grain. Freshly milled wheat contains over 40 essential nutrients, many of which are reduced when flour is heavily processed.” A lot of locals began their own sourdough journey during the pandemic by borrowing starters from a friend. Their recipes extend well beyond a traditional loaf of bread and include fun items like pancakes, cinnamon rolls and even pizza dough. Just like anything in life, practice makes perfect. If you’ve tried your hand at baking sourdough prod51 WWW.CHARLESTONWOMENPODCAST.COM | WWW.READCW.COM | WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/CHARLESTONWOMEN Photos Provided
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