Should a sourdough starter be left open/ajar after feeding?
I keep my sourdough starter (spelt) in the fridge and leave it out after feeding it. Should the jar that the starter be kept in be left open/ajar in order to encourage more wild yeast to colonize it - or be left shut so that it doesn't go off/die?
I keep the starter in a glass kilner jar with a clip lid that keeps any air out.
Best Answer
It's actually a bit of an old wives' tale that the yeasts colonizing your starter are from the air. Almost all of the yeasts in a starter are from the grains used to make it. This is why starters are frequently started with either whole grain kernels or grains like rye that are left mostly intact when milled. All of the microorganisms on the outside of the grain kernel are then included in your starter.
As to leaving your jar open, I certainly wouldn't seal it up, especially if the jar is glass. The carbon dioxide produced by the starter could cause the jar to explode if it can't escape.
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Do you leave sourdough starter uncovered?
While the temperature and surroundings of a starter are crucial to its outcome, the sourdough starter does not need to be sealed in an airtight container. It's still helpful to cover the starter with some sort of a lid, to prevent any mess from ensuing (via The Perfect Loaf).Should sourdough starter be covered after feeding?
Cover the starter and let it rest at room temperature. Depending on its health and how recently you'd fed it, it will start to bubble and expand quickly, or may take up to 12 hours to show signs of life. Our glass crock makes it easy to see how quickly your starter is expanding and monitor its growth.Should you close the jar for sourdough starter?
It doesn't have to be, no. I loosely place a glass lid on top (as you can see in the pictures on this page), but it's not sealed shut. You want to cover it mostly to prevent anything from inadvertently falling inside the jar, but it also helps prevent the mixture from drying out.What do you do with sourdough starter after feeding?
Do I have to discard my sourdough starter? It would be best if you discarded some portion of your starter each time you feed it unless you want to continue to let it grow. Eventually, you need to discard the used \u201cfood\u201d (flour and water) that's been used to sustain your starter during the last fermentation period.Understanding Sourdough Starter | feeding, ratios, leaven, when to use, what to feed
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