The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Can you leave a starter out?

Yeasty Beasty's picture
Yeasty Beasty

Can you leave a starter out?

I bake nearly every day or every other day and I was wondering if I can leave the starter out on the counter everyday? Should I feed it everyday if I use it that often?

WoodenSpoon's picture
WoodenSpoon

and if its good and active and if your house is warm you could feed it twice. or feed it, and build the levain, which is another feeding.

drogon's picture
drogon

I bake 6 days a week and my starters live in the fridge. I use them directly from the fridge, but when I need more starter than I have in the jar in the fridge then 5-6 hours before I knead, I take some starter out, bulk it up with flour & water, then it's ready in 5-6 hours time. (or do this the night before and leave it in a cooler place overnight)

There are many ways to manage it, you just need to find one that works for you.

-Gordon

Yeasty Beasty's picture
Yeasty Beasty

Also, my sourdough is extremely mild is there a way to make it more tangy?

drogon's picture
drogon

Make it warmer. The lactic acid bacteria favour heat more than the yeasts.

-Gordon

PetraR's picture
PetraR

I used to have my starter on the counter , but I was feeding it so much and was forever buying flour. He * Gordon *  now lives in the fridge and is happy.

I bake every 3 days now, when I need my starter I pull it out of the fridge , take what I need , feed it and put it back in the fridge.

I keep a 50% hydration starter , I find it easier to manage and I feel it has a nicer sour taste, but that is only my opinion.

I leave it in the fridge for 3 days so that the dough * which it is when you keep a 50%hydration starter * can ferment well.

YUMMY

 

suave's picture
suave

That's the only place my starter ever sees. 

jcope's picture
jcope

Mine sits out all the time.  Feed once in the morning and once at night.  I feed 20g starter with 10g flour and 10g water.  Not a lot of waste.  I prefer to keep it on the cooler side: 65-70F.  If it got warmer, I think I'd want to feed it every 8 hours.