The Fresh Loaf

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Gross!!!! Sick Sourdough...Worms!

cfiiman's picture
cfiiman

Gross!!!! Sick Sourdough...Worms!

Hey all,

I've neglected my starter pretty bad for a week and half or so, not refrigerated.  I went to feed it tonight and bring it back to health (has never been a problem in the past) and it had the hooch on it of course, but then I noticed these slimy rice like things all up the container, they are some kind of worm or something!  They are moving, it grossed me out so bad I'm tossing it which is sad b/c I've been working on it for almost a year, I just got lazy with it.  Has anyone seen this before, I searched and couldn't find anything, I've still got the heebeegeebees, here is a pick I snapped before throwing it out:

 

meirp's picture
meirp

Google rotting food and maggots. Time to start over. I keep my starters refrigerated. Why wouldn't you?

Meir

PetraR's picture
PetraR

eeeek, no, I have never seen that.

Why did you not refrigerate it when you do not have the time for feeding on a daily basis?

ghazi's picture
ghazi

I once got worms in my first Wheat starter after feeding it water that was tainted with oil. Now I try the water myself nearly everytime. Since I get it from a factory (filling myself) cheaper this way

Ive also learned overtime that  a starter should never get warm

MANNA's picture
MANNA

Maggots a.k.a. fly larvae. Even if your feeding your levain on a regular basis you need to ensure that nothing can get to it. Time to toss it and start over.

Mini Oven's picture
Mini Oven

loose enough to let gas escape and tight enough to keep out bugs.   Bugs not only lay eggs, they have dirty feet and track in unwanted bacteria.  Now you know what to use for bait in your fly traps, a pinch of ripe starter.  My son would have picked them out and fed them to his fish.  

An active starter emits a good deal of CO2 gas that when trapped under a lid, would most likely prevent and kill such little creepers.  The starter is in a very advanced stage of decomposition.  Wise to ditch it.  

David Esq.'s picture
David Esq.

Was your starter covered or uncovered where you left it out of the fridge?

If it was uncovered, of course, it is not at all surprising that a fly may have laid eggs in your starter.  If it was covered, it suggests to me that there may be eggs in your flour.

cfiiman's picture
cfiiman

It was covered with a plastic bag, loosely.  I've never had an issue before and I've let the starter get in bad shape before and it always comes right back.  I bought a new bag of flour so maybe you are right, that is so gross, how can I check if the bag is ok?  

Thanks for all the replies, I hate that I had to throw it out as I have had it forever and it is my only one :(

Bob S.'s picture
Bob S.

Almost all flour contains some insect eggs. They usually hatch out when a bag of flour has been stored too long or at too high of a temperature and humidity. Perhaps this is the source of your maggots.

dabrownman's picture
dabrownman

reason to store the starter in the fridge - if you don't have flies there too!

David Esq.'s picture
David Esq.

Use a jar with screw top lid, not quit screwed down. 

Or a jar, some cheese cloth and a rubber band.

Personally, the back of the fridge suits me just fine because it is less likely to get lost or knocked over.

cfiiman's picture
cfiiman

Yeah I wish I had now, this has still got my stomach turning lol, quite a grusome discovery!  I'll be starting a new one and really being more careful from now on.