I started a new batch of sourdough starter Wed. this week. The first 3 days it's looking good and nice and bubbly. But it does not smell good. So yesterday I check it and it's gray with grayish water on top and no bubbles. I stirred it up and nothing. This morning it's the same. I went ahead and poured off the liquid and added 1/3 cup of flour and stirred real good. I hace a damp cloth over the top ina ceramic bowl.
What is wrong with me? Why can't I get it going? I have it sitting on the counter in the kitchen right near my kambucha jugs and kefir. I keep the thermostat at 77. HELP!
I was using filtered water. And I had just read that it should be several feet away from other fermenting things. SO I will try again and put it across the room on the other counter with a dry cloth. I don't have lids that will fit this bowl.
Thanks ya'll. It's just so frustrating. I might try the wild grape yeast that I saw someone talking about before.
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts
Posted - Aug 08 2010 : 08:05:17 AM
kris not sure if this is it. but are you using bromated flour. it will not grow. just a thought the flour starter will turn grey if its not pure organic non bromated/ happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm farm girl #1014
Here's my experience: I use well water, it works just fine- from our well at least. I use organic flour but not all organic flours are created equal- Bob's Red Mill organic killed my starter. For the first week or so I need to really baby my starter to get it going. I feed 2x per day with 2tb flour to 1tb water. Once it really gets going then I cut back to feeding 1x per day. The liquid you're getting at the top is called hooch and all it means is that you need to feed your starter more- it's starving. Just stir it back in and continue feeding. :) Hope that helps!
I am using King arthur but not organic. I am going to start some more. I think I had read about maybe needing to feed it a couple times a day. I did stir it a few times one day.
Also does it matter if the water is cold> Or should it be more room temp? I put mine in the fridge in the filtered jug so it's cold. I am leaving some on the counter to get a little warmer.
I am not going to give up yet. I do think it's too warm in my kitchen. I might need to move it to the dining room.
Thanks for the help ya,ll. Of, the flour in unbleached too.
Thanks Heather. I just added more flour and water. It's looking good so far. If I see it just sitting there doing nothing I will add more flour. I have moved the new starter to the other counter away from the kambucha. So maybe this will help.
I like using warm water- remember you are trying to grow yeast albeit wild yeast and they like warmer temperatures to grow. Also if you can place it by an open window to let a breeze blow over it- that can help "capture" some wild yeast as well.
It's the 4th day and it was just sitting there again this morning. No bubbles. So I fed it just flour. It was a little runny. It perked up. I fed it again this afternoon and I see bubbles now. I sure hope it works.
Kris
Happiness is simple.
Farm Kitchen: Argh! Why can't I get my sourdough to start?
Argh! Why can't I get my sourdough to start?
Posted - Aug 07 2010 : 08:26:36 AM
