The Sourdough Sidekick automates the boring bit of baking

The Sourdough Sidekick is a kitchen gadget designed to automate starter management for sourdough baking by feeding flour and water on a schedule. Backed and branded by King Arthur Baking Company, it aims to make starters ready when users want to bake while leaving hands-on steps like shaping and baking to the baker.

The device reflects a broader trend of niche kitchen automation targeting time-consuming but repetitive tasks rather than replacing the full craft. Its appeal will depend on whether frequent sourdough bakers see enough value in a single-purpose gadget to justify the cost and counter space.