The Fresh Loaf

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Sourdough Starter Designations

Rosalie's picture
Rosalie

Sourdough Starter Designations

Well, I almost thought I knew what they were talking about when they said "liquid levain" or whichever.  Some books differentiate when they specify a levain type.  But now I'm confused again.  Maybe there are standard definitions?

Ed Wood's book, "Classic Sourdoughs," has recipes calling for liquid culture or sponge culture.  It turns out (way at the back of the book) that his liquid culture is about 108% hydration, and the sponge about 54%.  RLB's liquid and firm are 100% and 50%.  Leader's liquid levain is 130%, stiff dough levain 50%.  Reinhart's generic starter seems to be somewhere between 50% and 100% but depends on the specific recipe.

I don't understand why some recipes in a particular book call for one type and others for another.  Does it really make a difference?  Why can't I just use whatever I have and use my senses to adjust water or flour?  I hope for the latter because it can be real tricky to remember or figure out just what that author means by that designation.

Am I making this too complicated?

Rosalie

Rosalie's picture
Rosalie

It's been a month and you're the first to respond.  Thanks.

I appreciate your reply, but I have one question.  You talk about rye sourdoughs.  My one starter is whole wheat.  Can I assume that your comments still apply?

Rosalie

KipperCat's picture
KipperCat

The same is generally true of wheat starters.  The main thing is to have the same amount of - fermented flour - as called for.  For example 100 grams of 100% hydration starter will have 50 grams of flour; the same as 80 grams of 60% hydration starter. 

But even if you don't do this, I would think the bread would just rise a bit slower or faster, as long as you were fairly close.