Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
You’re never going to believe the secret ingredient!!!
Before I tell you, save this post and reference this guide for when your starter needs some extra love and nourishment.
Signs your sourdough starter is happy
- DOUBLED OR TRIPLED IN SIZE or VOLUME
- SUPER BUBBLY
- SOMETIMES OVERFLOWS
- ACTIVELY SEE BUBBLES POPPING
- SOURDOUGH STRANDS
- SMELLS YEASTY AND SWEET
- LOOKS VISIBLY DIFFERENT FROM WHEN IT WAS FIRST FED
- AND IF YOU REALLY FELT INCLINED, YOUR SOURDOUGH STARTER SHOULD HAVE A SWEET/FERMENTED FLAVOR (but you really don’t need to taste your starter as the other signs will suffice)
If your sourdough starter IS NOT showing these signs, it’s time for a boost!
Have you started your sourdough journey? If not, start yours today! Head to my shop and purchase your sourdough starter.
My great grandpas secret!
My great grandpa was a cowboy in the mountain ranges in Idaho. He traveled with his sourdough and always had it available.
Here’s his trick:
Use POTATO WATER to refresh your sourdough starter
- begin by discarding all but 2 tablespoons of the starter
- Grab a potato (I prefer Idaho Russets), peel it, wash it and slice it.
- To a pot add your potato top with filtered water and bring to a boil
- Boil your potatoes until they are fork tender and remove from the stove.
- Allow your potatoes and water to cool because the very last thing you want to do is pour the hot boiling liquid on top of your starter. (this will kill your sourdough starter)
- Once your water is at room temperature pour off a 1/3 cup of water and add that into your 2 tablespoons of starter.
- mix well and add a half a cup of organic all purpose flour (my choice of flour is central milling).
- Mix and incorporate your flour top with a lid, beeswax wrap or a wet dish towel and set aside to rise
You can watch the how to video here.
Tips
If you can place your sourdough start in a warm environment (but not the microwave or the oven), give it time to feed on the potato water and flour. Allow it to rise like normal. My starter NEVER rises in 4 hours. Whoever started passing this information out is causing you undo stress.
Remember sourdough takes time and you can’t rush the process but you should see that your starter has doubled in about 12 hours
if your house is cold like mine is (it was 62° the morning I initially started sharing this tip for instagram), then you need to know cold temperatures SLOW fermentation but it does not STOP fermentation. It just needs time.
Try this and let me know if it works for you
This method is what my great grandpa swore by and it’s allowed us to have a sourdough starter that’s at least 80+ years old
Other sourdough posts:
I have other sourdough posts that might interest you:
- 7 Signs your Sourdough Starter is Happy
- Frequently Asked Sourdough Questions
- NO DISCARD Sourdough Method
happy baking friends.
Love, Boots
PS drop any questions in the comments below
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
