Sourdough baking sees rise in popularity during COVID-19 pandemic

Sourdough has become popular during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you scroll through your social media feed, you might find dozens of photos of sourdough loaves.

But for Ione Christensen, sourdough is not a new trend. The 86-year-old Whitehorse womanhas baked with sourdough for most of her life.

The sourdough starter Christensenuses has been passed down through her family since the Klondike Gold Rush. Since then, sourdough has had a strong connection to Yukon. New Yukonersearn the nickname "Sourdough" after they make it through their first winter.

Like many during the pandemic, Christensen has been baking for family and friends a lot recently.

"I've been making cookies and cinnamon buns and bread and my hot cakes, of course, every Sunday," she said.

Sourdough uses wild yeast and Christensen saidwith baking ingredients in short supply, people are turning to sourdough.

"There's been a rush on yeast. It's like toilet paper. It's a popular item," Christensen said with a laugh.

Two years ago, part of Christensen's starter was sent to the Puratos Sourdough Library in Belgium to join the collection. The DNA in the starter's yeast was tested to find where it originated.

Karl De Smedt is the sourdough librarian.

He saidbesides the rush on yeast, sourdough is popular because people are at home and have the time.

De Smedt is a popular guy these days too.

"You have no idea. I get constantly questions on Facebook, on Instagram, through Messenger, WhatsApp, about people asking for tips and tricks," he said.

• READ MORE:Here's why everyone you know is baking bread in quarantine

De Smedt's top tips for getting your sourdough starter going include cleaning the insideof the jar, keeping the starter between 20 and 35 degreesand feeding it every day for the first week with the same amount of flour and water.

After that, the starter can be fed the night before you use it.

Even though many parts of life are disrupted at the moment, there's some comfort in sourdough and the fact Christensen will still be making sourdough hotcakes every Sunday.

Sourdoughrecipes

Christensen has handed out little packets of dried sourdough starter over the years. Along with the packet, there is a two-page hand outwith her family's connection to the 120-year-old starter and recipes for her hotcakes and waffles.

These recipes come from that hand out.

The night before you bake with the starter, add two cups of warm water,two cups of flour and two tablespoons of sugar to the starter.

Place in a warm area to work overnight.

In the morning, take out half a cup of starter and put back in the container. Christensen says to always save some of your starter before you start making anything.

Sourdough Hotcakes

Remaining starter

1 egg

2 tbsp. melted shortening

2 tbsp. sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tbsp. warm water

1.Gently mix all ingredients except baking soda and water.

2. Mix baking soda and warm water together.

3. Fold baking soda and water mixture into batter.

4. Bake on griddle.

Christensen says it will serve five.

Sourdough Waffles

Remaining starter

3 eggs

1/2 cup oil

2 tbsp. corn meal (optional)

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tbsp. baking soda

1/8 cup warm water

1. Beat eggs, oil, salt and corn meal together.

2. Add mixture to starter.

3. Mix baking soda and warm water together. You might need more or less water depending on the consistency of your batter. Should lift firmly on your spoon. Not too thin and not too thick.

4. Fold baking soda mixture into batter.

5. Bake in waffle iron.

Note: you can separate eggs and beat whites then fold them in just before adding soda.

Will serve five.