September 29, 2008 - 10:48am
Can I get an active starter from a 30 yr old packet of dehydrated Sourdough Jack starter?
I went to a flea market and saw an original Sourdough Jack pint container with the paper tag still on it and, lo and behold, the original plastic packet of dehydrated starter is inside-completely undisturbed, along with instructions and recipe sheet. It looks pristine and even the outside label is intact-no moisture damage or mildew. I bought it for 50 cents.
Any recommendations or experience from anyone trying to revive a dehydrated culture from long ago that has been under who knows what kind of environments? Interesting experiment.
Share
You can follow the directions that came with it - or you could try selling it on eBay.
Was there a date stamped anywhere on the jar or paper?
Whatever you decide. Let us know how it turns out if you reconstitute. I am drying some and pulvarizing for posterity this week. I hope it has a long shelf life.
There was no date anywhere but this package pre-dates zipcodes. An address was listed as "SanFranciso 23,California" and looking up when zipcodes started-it was 1963. So the packaging was printed before 1963.
Unless I hear otherwise from the forum, I'm going to follow the original instructions and see what happens.
It will work. Or it should. I started some a few years ago. Sadly, due to several moves, I lost it. But I found a replacement recently. It is again active.
Gordon
I was looking at some other things on ebay and found a cookbook "Sourdough Jack Cookbook", 1960's. Thought I would share.
Eli
I have revived the packets that are enclosed with the SDJ cookbooks. If your packet is intact, by all means, give it a try. Although I do not recall the instructions, all you really need is AP flour and some water. Nothing else.
To really prove to yourself that it is, indeed, the packet that is being revived and not just "another starter" being created, do a side by side test of flour and water mixed to the same proportions at the same time.
I am not the only one who has had success with these packets, either. and have even exchanged revivied SDJ starter with another baker who did it some years ago.
It's a good starter, although pretty wicked smelling.
Boron