First time caring for a starter.
Hey! Because of quarantine i have so much extra time on my hands that ive decided to care for a sourdough starter. Most of the info ive learnt is from the youtube channel Joshua Weissman and this forum. I have some issues already on day 2 though. Im not entirely sure what a "loose" lid means. How loose is it supposed to be? If its too loose will mold and bacteria get in? Ive seen the horror stories of jars lids popping and them breaking and shattering and im not sure if my jar is too tight. Aswell my starter grew 4 times its size today a couple hours after its first feeding and im scared it will continue growing overnight. I know it will most likely deflate when it gets hungry soon but should I be worried? I really hope to get any advice you guys could give me.
Classic Day 2 growth. You are not seeing actual yeasts leavening your starter. That is a bacterial thing that happens at the beginning of starter development. Starting now, for a few days it will likely seem as if your starter is dead. It isn't. It's just very very young.
Don't worry about the jar lid. I never use one anyway, I just reuse the same piece of plastic wrap sorta wrapped over it (it doesn't adhere to the top well).
Just keep on adhering to your schedule and be patient!
Loose lid - just set it on top, don't even have to screw it any. Ya just want to keep things from falling in that shouldn't be going in.
Well done you - great use of the time.
OK if you haven't already studied them, I strongly suggest you read these two posts. They will prepare you for some of the things your starter might do in the coming days (e.g. get extremely smelly and then appear to 'die') so that you know this is pretty normal and not a reason to give up :)
The Pineapple Juice Solution, Part 1
The Pineapple Juice Solution, Part 2
Don't be put off by the mention of pineapple juice by the way; you can just continue using plain water (!)
I will now forever reccomend everyone I know who like me is a complete sourdough beginner to join this forum and read these posts.
Woah! The responses ive been getting have been amazing. Over the last 2 days the starter has seemed like it has just slowed down but im glad I checked here and saw that this is normal. Thanks for tips on the lid. Im glad I got so much help.