The Fresh Loaf

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Frassinetto wheat starter - so stinky

fayeaway's picture
fayeaway

Frassinetto wheat starter - so stinky

Hi everyone - I searched through the "stinky starters" posts, but couldn't find a Frassinetto-specific problem. I recently ended up with a few pounds of this flour, and thought I'd make a new starter with it. The first try yielded a fermented thing that was increasingly pungent and gag-inducing.

I've seen descriptions like "socks, vomit, cheese * 1,000,000", but it isn't any of these. I have a healthy starter about a year old, and that one is yeasty and warm, sometimes a little astringent if I've starved it, so I have some idea of what a healthy starter smells like. The Frassinetto one smells like...rotting vegetation and maybe cat turds? There's a slight sharpness, but overall, it's a stink that stays in my nostrils. 

I thought perhaps my container or mixing utensils or water had something that caused this, so I sanitized another container, utensil, and filtered water to try again. It's day 4 now, and the smell isn't as strong, but it is starting down that route again. I've already decided to throw away the first Frassinetto try, because I can't keep from gagging when I open the jar. It's in the freezer right now so I could scrape it all out in one go to toss it that way.

I guess I'm wondering if anyone has ever tried using this wheat for a starter, and if so, is this just the stench quality of this wheat?? I'm willing to stick with it and keep feeding it white AP flour if the battle could be won. I started to do that with Frassinetto-1, but it stopped bubbling and just sat there a little paler and sludgier after AP flour feedings, so I thought the baddies might have just taken over.

Any insight would be appreciated! Sorry for the long first post! I just want to raise them right!

fayeaway's picture
fayeaway

I chased down some posts that lead me to continue working on the starters, stink or not! I'll update in a few days, but if anyone should come across this and has had Frassinetto wheat starter experience, please drop me a line!

JeremyCherfas's picture
JeremyCherfas

Is there any reason you want the starter specifically to be built on the Frassinetto? I mean, could you use one of your others and try feeding with Frassinetto?

fayeaway's picture
fayeaway

There wasn't a specific reason! I was just curious to see if a starter made with a different flour would make breads that taste a little different, or be a starter that's active in a different way. Now that I've started down this path, I just wanted to see it through as best as I can. 

JeremyCherfas's picture
JeremyCherfas

Perfectly sound idea. I'm just sorry it hasn't so far worked out as you expected.

LittleGirlBlue's picture
LittleGirlBlue

Another alternative is to use your regular starter, then just add Frassinetto flour to bake.  If you build a levain with the Frassinetto, the % of flour that comes from your starter will be pretty small.

I get the curiosity, though!

fayeaway's picture
fayeaway

I'll for sure try this as well! Thank you!