Citrus-smelling sourdough starter

Citrus-smelling sourdough starter - White Plastic Container With Black Beans

I have a batch of King Arthur sourdough starter that I mixed up several months ago and have been using ever since. I keep it in the refrigerator and feed it with 100 g of AP flour and 100 g of water once a week. I have made several hybrid loaves with it with no issues. I have noticed that at the end of the week when I am ready to feed it, it seems to have an orange-pink coating that has a strong citrus smell. I assume that it is some kind of fungus. I live in north Florida. It does not seem to be harmful in any way; I've made several loaves since I noticed it and have never gotten sick.

Any idea what it might be?

UPDATE Here is a picture of the starter. In the lower left, you can see an orange tint.

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moldsourdough-starter


Best Answer

I'm pretty confident you can get rid of that with the Ed Wood "washing" process.

  1. Stir hooch into starter. This stuff the microflora make to protect themselves.
  2. Increase the volume 3-5 times with water
  3. Stir until homogenous
  4. Pour off 4/5ths of it
  5. Tip in flour and stir until homogenous
  6. If not a consistency you like then add more flour or water
  7. Wait until it has risen double or triple
  8. Repeat several times

Lactobacilli and yeast are just a lot more active than moulds when at room temperature, they will outcompete the mould spores. If there were a toxin you'd just be diluting it, but I've heard of people reviving prized cultures that had gone completely black.

Good luck!



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Quick Answer about "Citrus-smelling sourdough starter"

  • Stir hooch into starter. ...
  • Increase the volume 3-5 times with water.
  • Stir until homogenous.
  • Pour off 4/5ths of it.
  • Tip in flour and stir until homogenous.
  • If not a consistency you like then add more flour or water.
  • Wait until it has risen double or triple.
  • Repeat several times.


Why does my sourdough starter smell like fruit?

Sourdough cultures made with rye flour contains high levels of amylase enzymes which converts a large amount of starch into simple sugars that gives off a particularly sweet and fruity smell and taste.

Why does my sourdough starter smell sour?

If your sourdough starter stinks like alcohol, vinegar, or nail polish remover, it means that it's really hungry and has produced lots of acetic acid. The good bacteria have eaten up all the nutrients in the flour and are desperate to be fed.

What does spoiled sourdough starter smell like?

Lactic fermentation reaction that happens in sourdough starters produces acetic acid and lactic acid. Acetic acid imparts a sharp sour bite smell akin to acetone, while lactic acid imparts a smooth sourness akin to yogurt.

Why is my sourdough starter orange?

Why does my starter have a pink/orange tinge/streak? If you forget to feed your starter for too long, it may develop pink/orange tinges or streaks. These are signs of bad bacteria. Once you see it, throw your culture away and restart.


Sourdough Starter Guide + why does it smell like that??



Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Jill Wellington, furkanfdemir, Sebastian Coman Photography, Karolina Grabowska

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