Just received some sourdough starter from King Arthur and was wondering if anyone knew the answer to this. The directions are pretty clear. Feed, 8 to 12, discard half, feed, 2 to 4, cut in half, feed and then another 2 to 4 and then used or refrigerated.
I have to work so if I am not dividing within the 2 to 4 or the 8 to 10 will I ruin it? It says best if used by the 21st but I know they stressed feeding it asap once you received it. Can it wait until the weekend or am I weakening it by waiting longer then I should?
the only way to ruin it, is to not feed it. I got their starter about a year ago because sadly, my starter was attacked by fruit flies! I waited for summer months to be over and began in the fall and didn't want to start from scratch. I guess it's cheating, but eventually becomes your own starter, from your region, anyways. It's still alive and very active for almost a year now!
Honestly, I threw away the instructions and fed it with 60grams of a white /wheat mix and 60 grams of water.
I will say this, that starter is on steroids! It's amazing stuff. That should hold it over till you get home from work.
Now, almost a year later, I feed 20 grams of starter with 20 grams of white/wheat mix with 20 grams of cold water twice a day. I add more flour and water if I'm lazy and feed once a day.
Thanks missylab!
I plan to keep mine in the fridge. Big bug problems here and it gets very hot in our house in the summer and the A/C doesn't really work. So the feeding will be once a week if I am reading correctly if kept cold. Its the jump start I'm worried about.
About the water, tap, distilled? I heard the chlorine in tap could be disruptive unless you let it sit overnight so the chlorine can dissipate. Anyone have any insight?
Thanks again for your help :)
I use tap water! :)
Ok great. I think I will just roll the dice and wait until Friday when I get home from work. Wish me luck!
sounds like an effective way to bring in some of those local wild yeasts ;). Or you could cover your starter container with tin foil. It's not airtight but keeps out the bugs.