I was totally wrong about using a starter instead of commercial yeast

For the longest time I thought starter people were just showing off. I mean, why spend weeks feeding a jar when you can grab a packet of yeast for a dollar? I stuck with commercial yeast for like 3 years doing weekly bread bakes. Then my neighbor gave me a cup of her 5 year old starter called Betty. I figured what the heck and tried it on a basic loaf. The crust was way crunchier and the inside had this tang I could never get from yeast. I still use commercial for quick stuff like pizza dough, but for sandwich bread I'm all in on starter now. Has anyone else had a similar flip where they swore off something and then changed their mind?

3 comments

3 Comments

anna4911mo agoTop Commenter

Yeah Betty sounds like my old starter Mabel, same tangy crust thing happened for me.

laura_chen411mo ago

Did you name Betty after a baker too @anna491? I named mine after a neighbor who never returned my garden hoe.

anna4911mo agoTop Commenter

Did you try feeding it a warmer spot, like by the water heater?