April 23, 2007 - 6:38am
feeling starter envy!
After looking at several other blogs showing amazing sourdough results, I'm feeling really envious! My starter experiment is dying a slow, horrible death. (If figures that the 3 other starters I have took off in no time at all, but the one I share with everyone tanks!!) I fed the starters again trying a reduced amount of flour and water to see if anything will change. If not, I'm going to toss both of them and start over.
I did have a bit of success with my original starter, Boris, this weekend. I was able to get a batch of English muffins and a couple of loaves of bread baked on Saturday. I still can't get big open holes in the muffins, but the crumb on the bread was pretty good.
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You aren't using dechlorinated water, are you? That was one of my biggest problems at the beginning. Looks to me like you are heading down the SD path like most everyone does, in fits and starts. Persevere. You obviously have the bugs working in that bread! But if you aren't happy with your starter take 1 T of it, add 1 T water and 2 T flour, mix it up, let it sit for an hour or two, then put it in the fridge. Do the same the next day. Day 3, add say 1/4 cup water and 1/2 cup flour and Bob's Your Uncle! When you do the mixing, mix the water in first, really well, get a lot of air in there, maybe use a little whisk. Then mix in the flour. I use a stray bamboo chopstick to mix. Easy to clean!
Good luck
Susan
Hi Susan! Actually, I am using filtered water in these starters. That is the especially frustrating part......my other 3 starters have been fed exclusively on regular tap water and they are thriving. These 2 get the pure stuff and aren't even breathing!
I'm giving them 24 more hours
says to switch to tap water then. And don't wait 24 hours to refresh, do it in 4 with a ration one spoon or 10g starter 20g water 20g flour, wait 4 hours and do it again. Chill overnight. Repeat in the morning saving just 10g. Get the bad beasties out and give the good ones lots of room. Don't forget to stir often. Mini Oven