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Very active starter suddenly isn't rising

donuts's picture
donuts

Very active starter suddenly isn't rising

I started a new starter six days ago.  Twenty-four hours later it was bubbly and had doubled in height.  On day three it had oozed out of its jar.  So I moved it to a larger jar.  I started feeding it every 12 hours as instructed.  It rose by about 50% the first feeding, and after that it just stopped rising, though it continues to bubble. I'm on day six now.  It continues to be super bubbly but isn't rising. I stopped feeding it every 12 hours and went back to a 24-hour cycle, which has made it bubblier but not likely to rise.  

I split it and tried adding whole wheat flour (50%) to one half.  That one stopped bubbling at all and got tossed.  The half that got unbleached all-purpose is still going.

A few additional notes that may help in diagnosing the problem:  I had been using tap water I left out for 24 hours to dechlorinate.  On day 3 I accidentally used straight tap water.  After that I started using tap water I'd boiled to de-chlorinate.  I'm in New Orleans, so it was over 80 degrees outside (and consequently a good 80 degrees in my kitchen) on days 1 and 2.  On day 3 it cooled off a bit.  It's been hovering around 80 indoors for the last few days.  The thermometer in my kitchen insists it's been at least 75 degrees, and often warmer, throughout.  It's also been reasonably humid.  For reference, it's currently 75 F (25C), 91% humidity.  My kitchen thermometer reads 81 degrees.  

Photo:  current state, 12 hours post-feeding.  It's bubbly, but it hasn't risen and weirdly it's developed a dusty top, like someone sprinkled flour overtop.

I'm going to feed half right now to see what happens and leave the rest till tomorrow.  My kitchen is a regular science lab these days.  But I'd love advice from those who have done this before!  

phaz's picture
phaz

It sounds like a new starter - and it needs time. Get a dough like consistecy - leave till it gets watery - thicken back up (etc) - wait. It may take a month till its ready for use. Enjoy!

Abe's picture
Abe

and find some healthy starter underneath. Find a small jar, this bowl is too big, and feed 50g of starter with 50g boiled and cooled tap water + 50g flour (25g bread flour + 25g wholegrain). Give it a good stir and see what happens over the next 12-24 hours. 

That whiteish growth on your starter does look like the beginnings of a kahm yeast growth which will indicate neglect. You do have a very warm kitchen and your starter may need more regular feeds. 

If your starter bubbles up within 12 hours then repeat. If it's a bit slower then go to the 24 hour mark then repeat the feed. 

donuts's picture
donuts

Out of curiosity, why does the size of the bowl matter?  I had jars but couldn't deal with the mess anymore.  I'll move it if need be, though.

My experiment in feeding did garner results, though!  The fed portion doubled in size overnight.

phaz's picture
phaz

Size doesn't matter - although one does need something to gauge with - a small jar is all that's needed - with a starter that is viable and is used often (every 3 or 4 days). Enjoy!

Abe's picture
Abe
  1. Difficult to gauge rise in a bowl. 
  2. You don't need to keep so much starter.
  3. Depending on how you store it the large surface area will dry your starter out. 

Much easier and simpler to keep a small jar. After all it is the starter! and a small amount will go a long way.