Finally got my sourdough starter to double in under 4 hours

It took me about 3 weeks of daily feedings to get there. I kept reading online that it should double in 4-6 hours but mine was taking like 10 hours or more. I think the problem was I was using tap water without letting it sit out first to get rid of the chlorine. Now I just fill a jar the night before and use that water the next morning for feeding. The difference was insane, like night and day. My neighbor said I should just buy a starter online but where is the fun in that? Has anyone else hit a wall with their starter timing and figured out a simple fix like this?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_viola13d ago

My neighbor's mom has been baking since the 70s. She told me to stop using tap water altogether. Just use bottled spring water. Said the minerals in tap mess with the yeast. I switched and my starter took off in two days. Now I keep a gallon jug under the sink for feedings. Works better than letting tap sit out honestly. Everyone fights with their starter at first. It's like a stubborn pet that finally decides to cooperate.

mark_green13d ago

Wait, hold on - "bottled spring water"?? That's wild to me. I mean, I get that tap water has chlorine and stuff, but I've been using filtered water from my fridge for years and my starter's fine. Your neighbor's mom must be some kind of sourdough guru from the 70s (which is honestly impressive). I've never even thought about minerals messing with yeast, but now I'm worried my tap water is sabotaging me. How do you even know which spring water to buy? There's like a dozen brands at the store and half of them taste different. I'm half tempted to try it just to see if my starter gets even more active. But then I'd have to lug gallons of water home every week, which sounds like a pain.

wendy_lee4812d ago

Oh man, I wonder if the temp of your feeding water matters more than people think? I started warming my water to like 80 degrees before mixing it in, and my starter finally stopped being so sluggish. IDK if it's the chlorine thing or just the yeast liking warm baths better.

-1