Is my sour dough starter still good if it separates?

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What happens if your sourdough starter separates?

Starters will sometimes separate into a clear liquid and a denser layer of flour. This is fine - just stir it together before using. If the mixture smells bad, is any color other than creamy white or slightly yellow, or is growing a furry mold colony, throw it out.

Why is my sourdough starter separating in the middle?

This liquid is called hooch and generally forms on the surface of your starter. It can sometimes form in the middle of your starter or even underneath. It looks like the flour and water have separated, however this liquid (hooch) is quite normal.

How do I know if I ruined my sourdough starter?

So how can we tell if a sourdough starter is dead? A sourdough starter is dead when it doesn't respond to regular feedings. If this is the case, the starter needs regular refreshments to be brought back to life. You may also see mould or discolouration, if this happens it's often best to throw it out and start again.

How do you fix a separated starter?

If you have a liquid starter, and the liquid has separated from the carbohydrate, you have a 'hooch', which is a mildly alcoholic substance. You can either pour off the 'hooch', then feed the starter as you normall would, or simply add a bit of flour and stir it through to thicken it.

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What's that liquid in my starter?

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