Sourdough

[tortoise]

I have a package of sourdough starter powder in my fridge and a lot of anxiety. 🤣 Who can help me with learning to make sourdough bread?

 

[tortoise]

My "caught" sourdough starter made bubbles today!

 

[wyoDreamer]

I prefer to get a start from someone, whether I buy one or a generous soul offer to share.
I have tried to "catch" wild yeast for a starter. 3 out of 4 times, it ended with the wrong things growing in there. The 3 bad times were all in Wyoming - high mountain desert is a rough climate.
I like the simplicity of knowing that I have the right stuff growing - something that will raise my bread or at least one that won't make me sick.

 

[FarmerJamie]

I may need to join the party. I don't do bread usually, but the wife does. She brought up sourdough without me mentioning this discussion.

 

[Marie2020]

Ya, its cool in here this morning, I didnt build a fire. Cool enough my hands are cold I'll build one after I go let the hens out of the coop,
but,,,,,,
Me thinks one more cup of coffee first

What I did this morning was placed my loaf into the oven on gas mark 1, and left the door open. Took it out for a stretch then put it into the pot before it was going too be baked then leaving it in the oven one more same on setting for 20 minutes before putting up the heat.

It was proofing in the cool temperature in my kitchen in between stretching it from 3am until 11. It's looking okay too me but have to wait before I can taste it.

By the way I added a couple of drops of iodine and yogurt this time with a fair amount of pumkin and flaxseeds

 

[baymule]

What I did this morning was placed my loaf into the oven on gas mark 1, and left the door open. Took it out for a stretch then put it into the pot before it was going too be baked then leaving it in the oven one more same on setting for 20 minutes before putting up the heat.

It was proofing in the cool temperature in my kitchen in between stretching it from 3am until 11. It's looking okay too me but have to wait before I can taste it.

By the way I added a couple of drops of iodine and yogurt this time with a fair amount of pumkin and flaxseeds

View attachment 17081

Not fair! Posting this picture of perfect bread, look how crusty and yummy! if you were within driving distance, I'd be on your doorstep with a jar of home made wild plum jam! It is a little far to swim...........

 

[flowerbug]

Not fair! Posting this picture of perfect bread, look how crusty and yummy! if you were within driving distance, I'd be on your doorstep with a jar of home made wild plum jam! It is a little far to swim...........

imagine how hungry you'd be when you got there! pig biting hungry!

 

[Britesea]

How can you tell if you're growing the wrong stuff?

by the smell, mostly; it should have a yeasty type smell. Color can be a clue too, although by the time you start seeing strange colors like pink or black the smell will have given it away. I know it doesn't sound very informative, but it's actually a LOT easier to tell than it is to describe. (If you aren't completely sure, leave it alone for another day or so. As the "wrong stuff" proliferates, it will become less and less appetizing in smell and color.)

I've heard it said that bread may have been "discovered" by burning a batch of beer, lol.

 

[wyoDreamer]

@R2elk I am glad to hear that you have been able to keep your sourdough alive and well.
My sourdough starter was 4 years old when I moved out to Wyoming. 2 months later is was pink with grey fuzzies. My second starter lasted almost a year before going pink. I may have been the problems, but I treated just like I did in Wisconsin. My neighbor (who thought she was a homemaker goddess) had the same problems that I did.
But I didn't give up, I am still working on getting a sour dough starter going in healthy.

 

[Marie2020]

The thing that gave mine a jump start was adding some wheat flour to it. It got active really quick after that.

Good thinking. I'll do this when I get out again. I've used rye flour with a touch of fresh pineapple juice.
It's stopped bubbling but smells good so I've gone ahead and I have a loaf in the oven right now 🤞 it will turn out ok