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Not sure if my SD starter is still alive

EllaInKitchen's picture
EllaInKitchen

Not sure if my SD starter is still alive

Issue:

My friend helped me to buy a SD starter from king arthur. i got it last night, it was about 15g ( half of it got lost which i will explain later ), i did my first feeding with ~ 15g king arthur whole white flour + ~ 15g bottled water. i put it in warm temperature about 23 ℃. after it sits there for 19 hours I don't see any change. 

Background of the SD starter:

My friend bought it from king arthur web on 06 may. He takes it out and put into a sealed plastic bag and put it in freezer. On may 22 he took it out from freezer and brought it with him to China. The flight was ~ 16 hours so totally it stayed out of refrigerator for ~ 20 hours with AC. After he arrives in China, it was not frozen but still cold. Then he put back in refrigerator(not frozen) .. i got from him on may 26 night ( beijing time) and did my first feeding.

More background:

I then called King arthur support and they told me if the SD starter doesn't fall off from the spoon by itself then it should be alive. They asked me to keep feeding it every 12 hours and it shall be back after 2-3 times. I just did the 2nd feeding now but I'm worried even if it  gets alive after 3 times, how do I know it's from the original yeast or it's a new yeast i created by myself?

Cuisine Fiend's picture
Cuisine Fiend

I think you've explained why why people buy starters instead of of mixing their own, cause I could never understand it: flour and water, eh? I see the point anyway now.

I don't think stink means beyond rescue - I've just tried to resuscitate the San Fran starter that's been sitting in my fridge for months, it was pretty stinky but I'm quite hopeful. Last time round I was almost ready to write off the rye sourdough and it bounced back to life like 100 devils!

EllaInKitchen's picture
EllaInKitchen

 

""  i agree lol, and now I don't feel that bad if i can't wake it up, although I still would love to see it happen.

My own created one is always very very active now anyway

EllaInKitchen's picture
EllaInKitchen

5/27 ~10PM EST after 2nd feeding

 

5/28 ~7:30 PM EST some small bubles

Then I remove 25g . add 50g and 50g water to the remaining 50 g 'SD starter'

I guess it's coming to life but it doesn't smell good ( not very bad ), so I guess I'm developing my own yeast instead of waking up the original one...:(