Just lost $120 on sourdough starter that died in my fridge

I bought this expensive starter from a shop in Portland back in March, followed every feeding rule from their website, and it still came out gray and lifeless after 3 weeks. Turns out my fridge runs colder than most at 34 degrees, so the yeast was basically hibernating to death. I scrapped it and made my own from tap water and flour, costs me maybe 25 cents. Has anyone else had a starter fail because of appliance weirdness, or am I the only one with a freezer disguised as a refrigerator?

2 comments

2 Comments

smith.ray15d ago

Freezer disguised as a refrigerator" is exactly it, my old fridge did the same thing and killed two starters before I got a thermometer. I now keep mine on top of the fridge where it's warmer, and it's been bubbling away for months for pennies.

uma_baker9915d ago

Ditch the fancy starter and keep your eyes on the thermostat, not the flour. @smith.ray nailed it about the temp thing, but nobody's talking about how tap water chlorine can straight up murder yeast if you let it sit out less than 24 hours. I killed my first two batches that way before I learned to leave the water in a jar overnight. Also, 34 degrees is basically cryo, so even if the starter survives, it'll never get that tangy flavor. Get a cheap fridge thermometer and move it to the door, that spot is always warmer. Once you fix the cold, the gray slime goes away too, it's all connected.