diff --git a/book/sourdough-starter/sourdough-starter.tex b/book/sourdough-starter/sourdough-starter.tex index 0c977b8..c39a3cf 100644 --- a/book/sourdough-starter/sourdough-starter.tex +++ b/book/sourdough-starter/sourdough-starter.tex @@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ are completely lost when trying to scale it up. Making a sourdough starter is very easy, all you need is a little bit of patience. It is in fact so easy that it can be summarized -in a simple flowchart~\ref{fig:sourdough-starter-process} The flour you should +in a simple Flowchart~\ref{fig:sourdough-starter-process} The flour you should use to bootstrap your starter is ideally a whole flour. You could use whole-wheat, whole-rye, whole-spelt or any other flour you have. In fact gluten free flours such @@ -101,6 +101,14 @@ as rice or corn would also work. Don't worry, you can always change the flour later. Use whatever whole flour you already have at hand. +\begin{flowchart}[!htb] +\centering + \input{figures/fig-starter-process.tex} + \caption[The full sourdough starter process]{The process of making a sourdough + starter from scratch.}% + \label{fig:sourdough-starter-process} +\end{flowchart} + Your flour is contaminated with millions of microbes. As explained before in the chapter about wild yeast and bacteria, these microbes live on the surface of the plant. That's why @@ -131,22 +139,30 @@ not airtight. You still want some gas exchange to be possible. I~like to use a glass and place another inverted one on top. -\begin{flowchart}[!htb] -\centering - \input{figures/fig-starter-process.tex} - \caption[The full sourdough starter process]{The process of making a sourdough - starter from scratch.}% - \label{fig:sourdough-starter-process} -\end{flowchart} - -Now an epic battle begins. In one study~\cite{yeasts+biocontrol+agent} -scientists have identified more than \num{150}~different yeast species living +Now an epic battle begins, as visualized in +Figure~\ref{fig:sourdough-starter-microbial-war}. In one +study~\cite{yeasts+biocontrol+agent} scientists have identified +more than \num{150}~different yeast species living on a single leaf of a plant. All of the different yeasts and bacteria are trying to get the upper hand in this battle. Other pathogens such as mold are also being activated as we added water. Only the strongest most adaptable microorganisms will survive. +\begin{figure}[!htb] + \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{sourdough-starter-microbial-war} + \caption[Microbial warfare during sourdough early days]{A simple + visualization of the microbial warfare that happens during the making of + a sourdough starter. The wild spores on the plant and flour become + activated the moment flour and water is mixed. Only the most adapted + flour-fermenting microbes will survive. Because of unwanted microbial + fermentation it is advised to discard the feeding-leftovers of the first + days. The surviving yeast and bacteria continuously try to outcompete + each other for resources. New microbes have a hard time entering the + starter and are eliminated.}% + \label{fig:sourdough-starter-microbial-war} +\end{figure} + By adding water to the flour the starches start to degrade. The seedling tries to sprout but it no longer can. Essential for this process is the @@ -188,20 +204,6 @@ days my new starter seems to be quite alive already. This might be due to previous contamination of flour fermenting microbes in my kitchen. -\begin{figure}[!htb] - \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{sourdough-starter-microbial-war} - \caption[Microbial warfare during sourdough early days]{A simple - visualization of the microbial warfare that happens during the making of - a sourdough starter. The wild spores on the plant and flour become - activated the moment flour and water is mixed. Only the most adapted - flour-fermenting microbes will survive. Because of unwanted microbial - fermentation it is advised to discard the feeding-leftovers of the first - days. The surviving yeast and bacteria continuously try to outcompete - each other for resources. New microbes have a hard time entering the - starter and are eliminated.}% - \label{fig:sourdough-starter-microbial-war} -\end{figure} - Wait for around 24~hours and observe what happens to your starter. You might see some early signs of fermentation already. Use your nose to smell the dough. Look for bubbles in the dough. Your dough