Any hope?

Toast

Hi: I had to leave my sourdough starter in the shed for Passover and when I went to get it last night it had turned pink and had a ghastly brownish green  crumbly crust on parts. Should I start over or is there hope underneath? Thanks!

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Moriah,

If it was only a little bit furry, I'd say try to salvage some of the interior portion.  Pink is not good, though.  I'd dump the whole thing and start over.  And next year, have a Gentile friend babysit it for you.

Paul

Throw that one away and then start storing your "baby" in the fridge till you are ready to use it. I have left mine as long as 2 weeks and it is beautiful and bubbly again after one feeding at room temp. Safest way to store and prevent growth of unwanted "things". c

Next year, "sell" your sourdough starter to a gentile.  For the duration, bake flatbreads with the flour exposed to water less than 18 minutes.  

Toast

I skimmed off the top and rescued some starter from underneath. I used pineaggple juice and flour to reinvigorate it and so far it's bubbly and smells beery...I have to wait and see...

Toast

 not pineaggple juice -- it was pineapple juice ;-)

It's winky and bubbly this morning, no stink. I just read that if it's pink it's poison....That's why I added pineapple juice to revitalize it - for the good beasties and ascorbic acid. It seemed to work but I don't want my husband's insurance moey , if you get my drift. Is it poison, or not?