November 26, 2023 - 5:55am
New (two week old) starter smells like acetone and isn't rising
My starter is currently a 1:1:1 ratio of 30g starter/AP flour/water. A few days ago it started smelling like acetone and the smell hasn't gone away, nor has it really risen. The acetone smell comes after only a few hours.I feed it once every 24 hours, since it's a little on the cooler side in my house (68-70 degrees). I've been keeping it in the microwave, also, but still no luck.
I've read an acetone smell is due to the starter being hungry and needing a higher ratio of flour and water, but I've also read to continue feeding normally with a new starter, so I'm not sure if I should be concerned yet, or if this is normal.
Any help anyone can provide will be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!
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My 100% hydration starter would not be happy after 24 hours at that temperature. It would probably be getting thin, and it would be way over-aged and not very active. I feed mine 1:3:3, and it takes around 5 hours to mature to peak rise at around 75 deg F/24C. Then I refrigerate it.
So I think your starter is suffering from a serious lack of food and probably over-acidity. Try feeding it at a higher ratio, and see how long it takes to peak.
On a few occasions I have forgotten and left it out overnight or once, for a full day. It did not develop an acetone smell, but if I cycled it like that for some I imagine it probably would.
TomP
I'll give it a try, thanks!
Should I continue feeding every 24 hours with this ratio?
If your schedule will allow it, I'd go for 8 hours. If that seems to work all right, then try the 12.
In 24hrs it should be thin - assuming it is a starter and it starts out thick enough. I would start there. Enjoy!