So how long does sourdough starter take? Keeping a sourdough starter around for times when you don't plan to bake can be quite unnecessary and a waste of flour. Learning how to properly store sourdough starter can help further your future sourdough baking plans in no time, without having to commit to baking every day.
Before making sourdough bread, you first need a healthy sourdough starter. And the right way to store sourdough starters is one of the things you need to learn. With those tips from us, baking sourdough bread will be as easy as a walk in the park.
There are several ways to store your sourdough starter, depending on how long you want to leave it and how you plan to revive it, as well as how you will need to store it during the remaining time in storage. .
So if you're wondering how long sourdough starter will last when stored and temporarily forgotten, then let's jump right into it!
What is sourdough starter?
Sourdough starter, also known as yeast culture or yeast, is a mixture of flour and water that has been allowed to ferment. It contains wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria. This combination is what allows you to use sourdough starter instead of commercial yeast in your bread, giving sourdough bread a unique flavor profile.
How to store sourdough starter?
If you don't intend to use your sourdough starter regularly, or are just looking for a break from baking, it's best to keep the starter in the fridge.
To do this, feed your engine and seal sourdough starter container, then let it sit at room temperature for 2-3 hours before refrigerating to store. A refrigerated starter will require feeding only once or twice a week to maintain it.
If you use your dough starter every day, then you should keep it in a jar at room temperature.
You will need to feed him every day at regular intervals, ie every 12 hours. A sourdough starter stored at room temperature and fed daily will have a milder flavor than one refrigerated and fed once a week.
Starter for sourdough nutrition
Fortunately, for many bakers, sourdough starters are very forgiving and can stay alive for months or even years between servings.
However, if you don't feed a starter often enough, it will slip into a deep sleep, eventually becoming inactive. If your starter isn't used for more than four weeks at a time (which is about how long it would take for a batch of bread), then it may be helpful to refresh the culture. Combine equal parts baked starter from your current batch with some new flour and water.
A healthy starter that has been stored in an airtight container should be fed at least twice a week. If you're planning on making bread on a specific day, for example, you'll want to feed your starter a few days before baking. This way, it has time to ferment and grow.
This process only requires a cup or two of flour and water. This can be poured into the jar as soon as it is done rising. The next morning, your starter is ready to bake.
How long can sourdough starter take at room temperature?
The only reason you would keep sourdough starter on the counter is if you plan to bake with it regularly. If so, then feeding it every day is not really necessary. As long as it stays covered in a jar of water and flour without forming a silver mold, then it should be fine well for a few days at least. There will be no problem arising from leaving it out altogether.
However, if your baking schedule means you're not using your sourdough starter every day, then keeping it on your kitchen counter is more likely to cause problems. Especially if it is left untouched for a long time without being fed and refreshed regularly with flour and fresh water, or some other type of ingredient you usually use to feed your starter. And if you keep it nice, yours sourdough baked bread can last you a long time.
The longer it sits there unattended, then the chances of mold forming are quite high. It's a possibility that mold is starting to grow somewhere inside the engine, out of sight. This can potentially lead to other unwanted microorganisms inhabiting your sourdough starter jar.
When is your fridge motor ready?
Typically, it is recommended to keep your dough starter at room temperature. Also, to feed it twice a day until it matures. This can take quite some time, searching at least 6 to 8 weeks of this commitment, or sometimes even longer. This will initially allow your starter to develop a good flavor profile as well as a strong yeast colony that will help your bread rise easily.
If you refrigerate your starter dough too soon, it won't take long to mature. This is mainly due to the fact that the low temperatures coming out of the refrigerator put it to sleep. If you can, leaving it on the counter and feeding it daily is always the best option.
Planning to ditch your sourdough starter for a much-needed break from baking? Then consider the maturity of your beginner before doing this!
Before baking, although you can use the starter directly from the refrigerator, although it is not advisable to do so. You should consider waking your sourdough bread from its slumber. Do this by feeding him meal or water every 12 hours for at least 36 hours. Then you can use it again.
What happens if I leave my engine in the fridge for a long time?
You may worry that you've killed your dough starter by leaving it in the fridge for too long without feeding it. Although when in the refrigerator, the yeast slows down and literally falls asleep. This results in a yellow liquid at the top called hook. But this is not an indication that something bad has happened, however. It just shows where some yeast cells have died, which is perfectly normal.
You may find that your unfed starter stored in the refrigerator has started to give off some unpleasant acetone-like odors. Not something you would want to eat!
Just mix in some flour and water when you take it out of storage. Let it come back to life, better than before.
It is also possible that your engine is developing some mold. Especially if it is left without food and without a refrigerator. This can happen even if there are no visible signs of mold growth on top or sides, making it unsafe to eat.
Leaving my sourdough starter in the fridge for too long
It would be best to maintain your starter by feeding it regularly. But if you find yourself going away on vacation or just forgetting about it for many weeks, don't worry!
Your starter will survive for a long time in the fridge. Even if you forget to feed him or go away for a long period of time.
It can develop hooch, which is simply an indication that the starter is hungry and will get quite sour. But you'll be able to revive it by throwing it and feeding it when you're ready to use it again.
Don't worry though, many have been known to resurrect a starter from the fridge after 2 years or more. So as long as there is no mold there is always hope!
So how long does sourdough last?
As long as your sourdough starter is baked before you plan to refrigerate it, then your starter will stay healthy. It will be alive as it sits in your fridge, asleep and waiting for its time to revive again.
Frequently asked questions
Can you keep the sourdough starter forever?
If you want to keep your dough starter for a longer period of time, without feeding, then try freezing your starter. Before doing this, double the amount of flour added during feeding so that it forms a very thick paste, place in an airtight container and freeze for up to a year.
How long can the sourdough starter stay active?
You can refrigerate the starter for 3 to 4 days at a time between feedings, ensuring that it remains active and healthy, ready for you whenever you plan to cook with it.
What is the oldest sourdough starter?
Although there isn't a Guinness World Record that reveals a list for the oldest sourdough starters ever. A starter that was 122 years old kept by an old woman named Lucille in 2022 was kept alive and fermented in her refrigerator.
When should you throw in a sourdough starter?
If you find that your engine has developed a pink or orange tint, this is a clear indication that your engine has gone bad and needs to be discarded.
