The Fresh Loaf

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Some greenish looking starter

philyphil's picture
philyphil

Some greenish looking starter

Hello! I'm new to bread baking and I've started my first starter about two days ago. This morning I checked on my starter and it has a greenish little puddles on top of it. Is this ok? I've read that this is just alcohol and as long as it smells tangy and is not pink it's ok.

Thanks!

philyphil's picture
philyphil

With a closer look I think I was the way the light was reflecting off of the "hooch" and my lack of experience giving my started a "greenish" color. It smells tangy and I did my first feeding about an hour ago. I think it's all good. 

Sorry for the dumb question and thanks for your response! 

Thanks again!

DoubleMerlin's picture
DoubleMerlin

I've only ever had a starter go bad when I let it dry out. The hooch on top, to me at least, is a sign your starter is a bit over-hydrated. I prefer to keep my starter around 125% hydration. I never see hooch when it's there. I think hooch develops because the flour cannot hold any more liquid, and as we all know, yeasties make alcohol (a liquid!) as well as CO2.