King Arthur wants to automate your sourdough starter

Baking sourdough bread may seem pointedly old-fashioned, but that doesn’t mean it’s immune to the allure of a novelty gadget. That’s where the Sourdough Sidekick comes in: a new countertop appliance that automatically feeds your sourdough starter so it’s ready to bake the moment you need it. The Sidekick is a joint project by FirstBuild — the GE Appliances “innovation hub” responsible for the viral Opal ice maker — and King Arthur Baking Company. Currently raising funds on Indiegogo, and well past its initial funding goal, the Sidekick is essentially an automated flour and water dispenser that can help keep your starter alive when you don’t have time, and take the guesswork out of the timing to feed it to make sure it’s active enough to bake with. There’s a little more to it than that though. You can plug in the date and time of the next time you plan to bake — to the hour — and the Sidekick’s Auto mode will feed the starter appropriately to make sure it’s at a peak of activity right ... Read full article.