April 5, 2020 - 10:53am
Adding an older starter
I have a sd starter that I began last December and it's going fairly well, but not quite as vigorous or sour as I'd like. A neighbor has offered to gift me some starter that they said is at least 8 years old and seems really bubbly.
If I take that starter, could I incorporate it into mine somehow? Could it make a difference or is it just as effective to keep feeding the one I have?
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You can in a second jar add a bit from both starters and see what happens
Good idea ?
I've read that the predominant yeast will prevail. The example was given if you buy something like "San Francisco Sourdough Starter" and make sourdough starter from that it will ultimately migrate to the yeast that is in the air that the starter lives. Unless one lives in San Francisco it'll be "My Home" sourdough.
So if you mix the two together I would guess the stronger yeast would survive but gradually migrate to wherever you live sourdough starter.
I am also not sure age matters much.
Over the course of 15 or so years of having sourdough starter, I've had to remake it 3-4 times due to some mistake or accident.. Each time the quality seems to be the same as the previous time.I use my sourdough starter about twice a month and each time I pour it all into a large bowl add two cups flour, two cups warm water, cover and use in morning, returning remainder to a jar I keep in refrigerator. I do not feed between these bi-weekly cycles.
Gary
Interesting! I didn't consider that instead of the yeast mixing it would be more like battle of the fittest. I completely bought into the idea that older was better also. Hmm... well the good news is this was gifted. Environment sounds like it's more important.
,I understand that yeast is in flour but it's also in the air. I've read numerous articles, cant site any one but here's one I just pulled off the internet.
https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/sourdough2.htm
I also understand there are different strategies on feeding and preparing the starter for storage and use. However, my approach is as I wrote and I am happy with the results.
Gary