From f8c45ade98d11700a8e9bf4f389aec7bd697366f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Hendrik Kleinwaechter Date: Sat, 6 May 2023 17:15:09 +0100 Subject: [PATCH] What's the best starter feeding ratio? (#78) This adds a section looking at the topic of what's the best starter feeding ratio. --- book/troubleshooting/misc.tex | 23 +++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 23 insertions(+) diff --git a/book/troubleshooting/misc.tex b/book/troubleshooting/misc.tex index de908b8..9569b16 100644 --- a/book/troubleshooting/misc.tex +++ b/book/troubleshooting/misc.tex @@ -706,3 +706,26 @@ measure your dough's size increase. Another option could be to use a more expensive pH meter to measure your dough's acidity buildup. You can read more about different ways of managing bulk fermentation in section ~\ref{section:bulk-fermentation}. + +\section{What's the best starter feeding ratio?} + +The best starter feeding ratio is commonly either 1:5:5 or 1:10:10. +In the case of 1:5:5 that's 1 part old starter, +5 parts flour and 5 parts water. If you are using a stiff starter, +use half the amount of flour. So that's 1:5:2.5. Depending on when +you last fed your starter 1:10:10 might make more sense. If the starter +is old and hasn't been fed recently the 1:10:10 ratio is a better choice. +By reducing the starter inoculation ratio, you provide the microorganisms +with a cleaner environment. This way they can reproduce and regrow +into a more desirable balance to begin your dough fermentation. + +Generally, think of your sourdough starter as a dough. Use the same +ratios you use for your bread dough for your starter. Your starter +should be trained in the same environment that you later use +for your dough. This way your starter is perfectly suited to +ferment the dough into which it is later inoculated. + +The only exception to the 1:5:5 and 1:10:10 rule is the initial +starter set-up stage. For the first days during the starter-making +process there aren't enough microbes yet. So using a 1:1:1 ratio +can speed up the process. \ No newline at end of file