While sourdough is certainly a game changer, there are some trials and tribulations that come with making one. For example, if your sourdough starter smells of alcohol, then you're probably wondering if it's time to throw it all away. But before you do, stop and consider some of the ways to fix it. Because once it's fixed, you'll have nothing but successful baking.
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What is a sourdough starter?
A sourdough starter is a live fermented culture of flour and fresh water. Yeast and bacteria are extracted from their environment to feed on sugar and starch. A small amount of this wild yeast is added to bread dough to help it rise and provide a complex yet delicious flavor.
What should a sourdough starter smell like?
A sourdough starter should smell slightly sour with a touch of yeast.
If the smell of your engine makes you wrinkle your nose in disdain, then your engine may be beyond repair at that point!
Why does my Sourdough Starter smell like alcohol?
In general, sourdough starters tend to smell slightly alcoholic. of yeast fermentation produces ethanol which is an alcohol, which explains the mild alcoholic aroma. However, if your starter smells excessively alcoholic, then this is a sign that the starter may need to be fed more often.
If a starter is left unfed, the yeast in the flour will continue to ferment, producing ethanol, which will make your sour starter smell even more alcoholic.
When the starter has not been fed long enough, the yeast and bacteria can die, resulting in failed fermentation when added to the dough.
Simply put, a well-fed beginner won't smell as strongly of alcohol. This is because the ethanol levels drop significantly every time we throw and feed the starter with fresh flour and water.
It is important to keep the sourdough starter fed so that the lactic acid bacteria and wild yeasts are established enough for the fermentation process in your sourdough bread.
How to prevent your newbie from smelling like alcohol
Heartburn is caused by hunger, which means your number one priority should be preventing your hunger from starting.
Fortunately, there are several ways to do this:
- First, try to feed your starter more often ie once a day.
- Secondly, store your starter at a suitable temperature. The main thing that causes bacteria to become more active and hungrier is heat. The average temperature your sourdough starter should be kept at is 75°F. If you store your starter at a higher temperature then it may become more active and hungrier.
- Third, you always can store your starter in the refrigerator to slow down the fermentation process. This is especially good if you want to take a break from baking sourdough for a while. But if you want to bake soon, then you should avoid this and try to take proper care of your starter.
- If you plan to store your engine in the refrigerator, then you should remove at least one week before use it to make sourdough bread. This will ensure that the starter is strong and back to health.
How to fix sourdough bread that smells like alcohol?
Most of the ethanol produced at the beginning of the sourdough evaporates during the baking process, leaving a hint of an alcoholic aroma to pair with the flavors of your bread. Although small, there is a chance that winds will become strong.
Here are some common issues they can cause sourdough bread smell like alcohol after baking:
The dough was overdone
The yeast at the beginning of the sourdough will use the oxygen during the early stages of growth. Once the oxygen is used up, the yeast is left without air and will ferment to produce carbon dioxide and alcohol. On correction it leads to the production of more alcohol, hence a lasting aroma after roasting.
The dough was sour
During the first rise, if too much gas has been created, the oxygen in the dough will have been used up and the yeast will continue to ferment. By the time the dough has risen, it will contain a lot of alcohol.
The dough was not kneaded dough
Undeveloped gluten can play a big role in the overall texture, taste and aroma of your dough. If the gluten is underdeveloped, it will take longer to rise. This is because the gluten won't be able to stretch properly, meaning more gas will have been released and the dough will need a longer rise to create more alcohol.
The dough was very warm
If your dough was too warm, the yeast will burn through the sugars during the first rise. While this may not seem so bad, there will be less sugars during the second rise and the gluten structure will be immature and less able to hold gas.
The starter was ripe
The sourdough starter is fermented in the same way as a sourdough bread, which means it also produces alcohol. If the starter depletes the nutrients from the fresh flour, the alcohol levels will rise.
Weak starter
A lean starter will have not enough good bacteria and too much bad. Using a weak starter to bake sourdough bread will require a longer fermentation time, therefore producing more alcohol. For one mature starterkeep feeding and cooling it for a few more days so it can populate with the right enzymes.
How to adjust your starter
If your engine emits some odors that are a little overwhelming, the best way to combat this is through regular feeding. Just discard a small portion and feed the rest with fresh flour and water. A common feature of a hungover newbie is that he smells strongly of alcohol.
The starter smells like alcohol
Keep the aromas of alcohol in your favorite drink, such as whiskey sour. Not in your hungry starter.
A starter with strong odor will usually indicate that it is hungry and needs to be fed. Frequent feedings will quell the overpowering aromas, making it perfect for baking sourdough bread.
Sourdough starter FAQ smells like alcohol
Can I use sourdough starter if it smells of alcohol?
Yes absolutely. If your newbie smells like alcohol, that's just a sign that he's hungry.
How do you get the smell of alcohol out of a starter sour?
Simply increase the frequency of feeding the motors, unless the motor has been neglected for a while, where it may require a bit more effort to revive it.
Can I use my sourdough starter if it smells like acetone?
Yes, absolutely. However, you must feed the starter before using it, as the smells indicate that it is hungry!
How can you tell if sourdough starter is bad?
If your starter has been neglected for long enough, it will develop mold or show signs of being overrun by bad bacteria.
