Hot take: I was wrong about letting my sourdough starter get super bubbly before a bake.

For months I waited until it was foaming over the jar, but my loaves kept coming out flat and sour. My friend in Boise said she bakes when it just floats in water, and my next loaf had the best oven spring I've ever seen. How do you guys tell when your starter is truly ready?

3 comments

3 Comments

nguyen.angela2d ago

My starter from Portland is a slow riser in winter. I stopped watching the clock and now just smell it. When it has a sweet, almost fruity smell instead of that sharp vinegar punch, that's my go signal. The float test failed me once with a hungry starter that still had bubbles. What's your kitchen temperature like right now?

evan_cooper732d ago

Trust my nose more than my thermostat these days. My kitchen swings from arctic to tropical depending on how long the oven's been on.

reese_hayes711d ago

My starter in Denver peaks way faster than the guides say, maybe @evan_cooper73 is onto something with trusting the nose over the clock.