June 3, 2020 - 5:09am
Starter changed smell after a month
I began a starter 40 days ago. It is fed every 12 hours at 1:5:4 and triples in about 9 hours. So far, 5 loaves were made from this starter.
Since starter rose 20 days ago, it had a nice "beer and fruits" smell. But since about a week, it went from this nice smell to a less pleasant "vinegar" (not sure how to describe) and a little stinky smell.
What has changed :
- I forgot the starter in a pre-heating oven for about 5 minutes (!!), but when I measured the starter temperature, it was about 24°C. Since that day, it got this new smell (and rose perheaps a bit slower during the first refeeds after that).
- During the day temperature is now 27°C (80°F) instead of 21°C (70°F) in the first weeks.
- During the last three days, I kept the starter in the fridge (was not at home). I moved it out of the fridge yesterday and it triples after each refresh as before. The smell is perheaps less strong now, but did not revert back to "beer and fruits" smell.
Is it normal that the nice "beer and fruits" smell has gone ? Have I spoiled my starter ?
I have not made any loaf since starter got this new smell. Should try this week.
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I think the starter is normal. Make your bread.
Ford
Thank you, I hope so. So this change of smell is usual with increase of temperature ?
I will do a few refresh at 2:1:1 to see if an increase in acidity may get rid of this smell (unwanted Leuconostoc or others bacterias may have appeared ?)
You won't have nasty smelling Leuconostoc by now as the pH is below 4.5. If your starter is bubbly, you have yeast and LAB's. Leuconostoc dies off as the pH lowers (becomes more acid) and the good LAB's take hold and the yeasts follow soon after. If you starter/culture is bubbly then you are good to go.
A new starter goes for being a "juvenile" to an "adult" after about a month. The strength and complexity mature gradually.
In the beginning you have a lot of competing "stuff" in a starter. As it gets older and stabilizes the smells can/will change. Also depending on how often you feed you can have less smell because your starter is full of fresh flour. If you are getting a lot of action, I would say bake some bread.