very stalled out starter
HI All,
I did a quick search and saw a similar question back in February- I just want to confirm, as I have not had this issue previously when I made my original starter (which I accidentally BAKED three years ago).
I have a starter which was going nicely at first- then it stalled out- but much later in the game- it stalled out about 10 days in.
I started with rye flour/water at equal weights(I had no pineapple or orange juice or would have followed the tutorial). I fed daily for 5-7 days ( I forget honestly) using the rye for the first three days, then alternating between rye and whole wheat. I then started using the AP flour.
The starter never had a sour smell of any kind, and typically has no smell what so ever. Sometimes if I sniff really hard, i can smell a flour or slightly fruity smell- but not that fruity sour smell.
Anyway, it has now been 14 days, and it has stalled out for the last five. I keep it warm. I have been feeding it daily, and returned to using AP flour, after trying whole wheat and rye to n o avail.
The responses to the post in February were to stop feeding and just stir until activity started- is that the appropriate action here?
TIA
You have probably diluted the microbes that you want to have in your starter.
Switch to one flour and stay with it. I’d recommend using your whole rye for each feed. Once your starter is well established then switch to whatever you want long term.
Do nor feed until you see activity, wait until the starter peaks and starts to fall. So as it is rising it will have a dome, once it has started to fall the dome will flatten. Do not discard and feed again until that flattening of the dome happens. Be patient. Repeated feedings without activity is just diluting the starter of the microbes.
Benny
Thank you. Looking at the tutorial on here using the OJ/pineapple juice, I thought it switched up flour halfway through, so that is what I did. I fed it this morning with WW, so I will stick to that once it started doing something. I have it in wide mouth glass jar, and I can see when it is rising/flattening. TY.