Sourdough starter gone wild

Why is my starter bubbling out of the container within minutes of mixing. I used 2 c. bread flour, 2 c. water and 2.25 tsp active dry yeast.

sourdough

Best Answer

There are a couple of (potential) issues here.

First, sourdough starter doesn't involve store bought yeast, so I'm not sure I'd call what you have a sourdough starter-- I would call it more of a poolish or a biga. What makes it a sourdough starter is the cultivation of wild yeasts (this takes time, usually on the order of one to two weeks), but if you were to take care of and feed what you currently have for long enough, I would imagine that it would become a proper starter, although I would expect that to take more like months for the store bought yeasts to die off and be replaced with wild ones.

Second, two teaspoons of yeast for two cups of flour and two cups of water sounds like an awful lot of yeast. If I were baking something right away that called for that much flour I don't think I'd use that much. Related, thirdly, you don't mention anything about the size of your container, but I suspect its too small. Typically expect yeast related things to double in volume, so if your container couldn't hold at least that much it is too small.

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Quick Answer about "Sourdough starter gone wild"

This liquid is the alcohol given off as wild yeast ferments. The presence of hooch isn't a sign that your starter is in danger. However, it does indicate that your starter is hungry and needs to be fed. When your starter is neglected for an extended period, the hooch tends to turn from clear to dark-colored.

How do you know if your sourdough starter is spoiled?

You can tell that a sourdough starter is bad or dead if it doesn't respond to regular feedings after being unfed for a long time or if they develop any kind of mold or discoloration.

Why did my sourdough starter go rancid?

Make sure you feed your starter the exact proportions listed. Too much flour or water or too little will lead to a bad starter. While you can use a metal spoon to stir your starter you should not use anything that is made of aluminum or copper.

Why did my sourdough starter turn black?

The dark liquid is a form of naturally occurring alcohol known as hooch, which indicates that your sourdough starter is hungry. Hooch is harmless but should be poured off and discarded prior to stirring and feeding your starter.

Is my sourdough starter contaminated?

Here are some signs of contamination in a sourdough starter: Pink or orange tint or streak. Furry surface or dots of furry patches i.e. signs of mold. Blue/green moldy patches developing on the surface.