The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Feeding Leftover Starter

KipperCat's picture
KipperCat

Feeding Leftover Starter

I managed to ignore my starter long enough that it got rather wimpy, so now I'm feeding it twice a day.  Rather than discard the leftovers, I accumulate them in the fridge.  I've started adding just a bit of food before refrigerating, though keeping it at about 100%.  I'm feeding it only about 80-10-10 or even less, but it seems to keep the leftovers happy until I'm ready to use them.  Does anyone else do this? Is it serving a purpose or could I just as well accumulate it as is?

AnnieT's picture
AnnieT

KipperCat, you sound like a girl after my own heart. I had been saving my leftover starter, being too frugal to toss it, but SourdoLady told me that it was wallowing in its own waste. Sounded pretty gross. Then I managed to kill both my good starter and the discards, so I now have to start over. She also told me that I have been keeping too much starter - she saves only 1/4 cup. I think mine was like a security blanket. Anyway, I intend to plan better and I will add some starter to every bread to use it up. So far my yogurt starter is romping away while the pineapple juice one is less enthusiastic. No wonder my family roll their eyes, A

KipperCat's picture
KipperCat

LOL!  Last night my husband told me I feed my starter better than I feed him. <g>  I replied that for him I turn the flour and water into bread before I feed it to him.

mariana's picture
mariana

 

 

Hi KipperCat,

 

I do store leftover starter, as is, in a crock pot at 50F. Since it is fully mature, I store it for a couple of days and, if I haven't used it by then, I discard it.  I determined for myself, that the best way to use sourdough leftovers is in desem bread. Desem bread can be made of nearly 50% starter, by weight, it will only make bread softer and velvety, cakelike (because gluten in leftover starter is very digested and doesn't form strands or sheets).

 

mariana

Oldcampcook's picture
Oldcampcook

I accumulate all my leftover starer in a large jar in my frig.  Then, on the weekends, I make sourdough pancakes and biscuits with it.   I even share it with my neighbor for the same purpose.

BTW, she just called me after sampling my first batch of "Memo's Brown Bread."  We got very high marks from her on it.

KipperCat's picture
KipperCat

I'd love to see the recipe you use for sourdough biscuits - I've seen a lot of variation out there.  I'm also looking for a good sourdough waffle recipe I could use the leftovers in.

 

weavershouse's picture
weavershouse

If you search SOURDOUGH WAFFLES on this site the first post should be jmonkey with his sourdough waffles and I've made them many times. They are excellent. I use the whole wheat or spelt pastry flour and it works great but you could use all purpose if you want.
oldcampcook, I'd like the biscuit recipe too.                                     weavershouse

KipperCat's picture
KipperCat

Thanks weavershouse!  I've bookmarked the recipe to try soon.