New to starters with a question
Hello everyone!
I am new here and I have a question regarding the starter I have tried to start...
I followed the instructions found in this thread:
http://www.thefreshloaf.com/node/10251/starting-starter-sourdough-101-tutorial
It took three days before I was ready to do the Day 4 additions and I had to boost the starter with 3 tbs rye flour before it began to grow.
Here is a little background of the starter leading up to day 4
On day 2 I did the addition as instructed and it doubled in size in less than 24 hours.
On day 3, I discarded half and added the instructed addition. Then I waited and waited. After 36 hours I boosted it with 3 tbs rye and 1 1/2 tbs water. Then waited again. The smell went very sour, but nothing grew. After another 36 I boosted a second time with the same amounts of rye and water as the first time.
After giving the starter a second rye boost, it grew. It doubled in size and the smell changed to a more alcohol like smell. So I went ahead and did Day 4 additions, discarding half first.
The instructions say that after doing day 4 additions it should begin to double more quickly and that as soon as it does double I can go ahead and do day 5. Well that was about 36 hours ago and I am still waiting.
The starter now has a distinct alcohol smell. It also has a clear (slightly brown) liquid on the top. The starter seems frothy but there just isn't any growth.
So now I leave it to you all... what should I do from here??
I'm no expert, but I can share my limited experience with you.
On day three I read it as, you fed the starter three times with the same amounts each time, but did not discard any excess. This in effect means that you are feeding a bigger and bigger starter with proportionaly less food. It sounds to me like you starter is dying of starvation. This is further evidenced by the fact that liquid is starting to form on the culture.
I would throw away all but 50g of the starter, add 100g of flour and 60g water (just my preference) you can add whatever proportion of flour and water as a feed providing that there is more flour in the feed than you have starter. Do this every day until your starter is firmly established.
No doubt there are folks with more experience who will chip in, but this worked for me when my starter became sluggish.
I understand what you mean, but this is not exactly what has happened...
Day 3 and Day 4 instructs to discard half of the starter and then to add to the remainder 1/4 cup flour and 2 tbs water. But the instructions for Day 4 also say:
So, because my starter had not doubled I boosted the starter with rye flour as instructed.
Because the first time that I boosted the starter didn't produce any growth I boosted it a second time, which then caused it to grow.