Reviving Storage Starter

Recall that I tossed my whole grain starter when I had been feeding it irregularly and it changed behavior — got a little runny, smelled not right.

Well, I pulled my storage starter out of the fridge today and began reviving it. Doesn’t appear to be a challenge; it seems quite lively already.

I had about a cup and a half of white-flour starter — from Carl’s Friends — in the fridge. I used the full amount of starter. I stirred in 1 cup of warm water — warmer than usual since the starter was ice cold — and 1.5 cups of white flour. It started bubbling within the hour. I stirred it 2-3 times through the day. It doubled itself twice before evening. However, it wasn’t quite as spongy has it had been before. Fully doubled in size, but a little runnier. That’s like my other starter had done. Either both were contaminated by something, or the winter weather and change in indoor climate has changed the starter’s behavior. I’m thinking the latter right now. Still, I’ll feed it a few days before using it in bread again or trying to convert it back to rye.

I fed it again tonight by discarding half the starter, and again feeding it 1 cup warm water (luke warm now) and 1.5 cup white flour. It’s very thick, and I’ll see whether it rises up moire spongy or not this time.

Curious, this change in behavior. I may order up some more dry Carl’s Starter in case this one is a lost cause.

Also excited to get my K-Tec/BlendTec mixer so I can make bread even when I don’t feel like I have the energy to knead it and handle it. May help me also keep the starter healthier over time by using it more often.