Anyone else use a candle warmer when it gets colder?
I know it looks a little hazardous, but I put it on the lowest setting and haven’t had an issue yet. A smaller jar is a little more ideal. But thought I’d share for any other northern bakers!
by cellardew
27 Comments
MakeYogurtGreekAgain
I ordered a heated seedling mat yesterday. My starter hasn’t risen since winter started lol, I’m very sad
Successful-Chip-4520
I use my oven light
strawbrykat
I have a seedling germination mat, a room thermometer, and an insulated bag! I only use it when making bread though. I keep a rough starter and still find that it peaks after 24 hours even when it’s cold.
avokato_
I put mine in a soft sided lunch box with a ziplock bag or jar of hot water. Love the creativity that comes out in the cold months hahaha
unsatisfries
i thought i was in the bath and body works sub and i was like wtf is the contraption on top of the candle 😂😂😭😭 i can’t
dvheuvel
I use a small pet heating mat that I just had. Works great in my cool kitchen.
StellaSea
OMG. THIS IS GENIUS
Lasborg
Place on Xbox, and play a game.
WhoSaidThat2Me
I did this the other day! My set up was a bit rougher than yours and I did cook my starter 😔 don’t be like me.
Az_StagHub-n-Hotwife
No, and you need a solid life cloth/wood/paper retainer moisture and grow mold
zudzug
I use a sous-vide machine.
havealuckyday
I put an electric throw blanket in a cardboard box, with the heat setting on low. Then I place the starter in the box, and depending on how cold my house is, I may fold the top of the blanket over the starter jar. It worked great!
BarbequedYeti
>I know it looks a little hazardous, but I put it on the lowest setting and haven’t had an issue yet
If hospital walls could talk, one of their most shared stories would start this way.
Middagman
No, because it’s not freezing in my house. 18C / 65F is enough to get my starter active.
And if my kitchen is colder, I place my starter in the living room.
ninjasrcool
If I’m using my oven for something else already, I’ll use my under counter lighting. Works surprisingly well
KylosLeftHand
No because keeping it too warm for too long makes it overly acidic. I used to keep it inside the microwave with the light on where it stays a nice 80° but it turned my strong starter into a weak, thin, watery mess that smelled like vomit even when it peaked. It took about a week before I figured out it was the warmth causing the issue – and after another week of feeding cold water and keeping in the counter it bounced back.
Highly recommend against this. 0/10 will make you gag with the smell of highly acidic starter.
burgonies
Am I mistaken or is that a device made to warm a candle? Don’t candles warm themselves?
FullMudder
I have an electric kettle with a flat top so I just boil some water to 90c and leave my jar of starter sitting on top, doubles super quick, and is strong enough for big fluffy loaves.
ConsiderationFun8574
You can also put in the oven (oven off) with the light on.
Klutzy-Client
I just use a mini heating pad and wrap it around!
TrashtvSunday
That linen cap is going to result in a very dried out starter plus it tends to be a breeding ground for bacteria
golddustjourney
I place on top of my dehydrator dialed to a lower setting.
MaverickNeedForSpeed
I used to do this but my house is drafty that I still had issues. Caved and got a sourdough home 🤣
Midwest-Emo-9
I put mine in a sock and put it near my oven. 😅 it definitely got a little mad at me when the weather changed, but she’s finally rising again!
found_a_new_low
I leave mine on my sound system receiver, just slightly warm. But it’s been 2 weeks and my starter still isn’t doubling so maybe don’t follow this advice..
Top_Cauliflower9125
Immediately after I feed it I submerge the sealed jar in a pitcher of hot-ish tap water. Not fully, just enough to cover the lower part of the jar. Then I remove it once the water has cooled and sit my starter on the counter. This has gotten her to rise in my normally chilly apartment!
Black_Ribbon7447
A cloth “lid” is a one way ticket to moldville. It lets too much air in as opposed to a loose mason jar lid.
27 Comments
I ordered a heated seedling mat yesterday. My starter hasn’t risen since winter started lol, I’m very sad
I use my oven light
I have a seedling germination mat, a room thermometer, and an insulated bag! I only use it when making bread though. I keep a rough starter and still find that it peaks after 24 hours even when it’s cold.
I put mine in a soft sided lunch box with a ziplock bag or jar of hot water. Love the creativity that comes out in the cold months hahaha
i thought i was in the bath and body works sub and i was like wtf is the contraption on top of the candle 😂😂😭😭 i can’t
I use a small pet heating mat that I just had. Works great in my cool kitchen.
OMG. THIS IS GENIUS
Place on Xbox, and play a game.
I did this the other day! My set up was a bit rougher than yours and I did cook my starter 😔 don’t be like me.
No, and you need a solid life cloth/wood/paper retainer moisture and grow mold
I use a sous-vide machine.
I put an electric throw blanket in a cardboard box, with the heat setting on low. Then I place the starter in the box, and depending on how cold my house is, I may fold the top of the blanket over the starter jar. It worked great!
>I know it looks a little hazardous, but I put it on the lowest setting and haven’t had an issue yet
If hospital walls could talk, one of their most shared stories would start this way.
No, because it’s not freezing in my house. 18C / 65F is enough to get my starter active.
And if my kitchen is colder, I place my starter in the living room.
If I’m using my oven for something else already, I’ll use my under counter lighting. Works surprisingly well
No because keeping it too warm for too long makes it overly acidic. I used to keep it inside the microwave with the light on where it stays a nice 80° but it turned my strong starter into a weak, thin, watery mess that smelled like vomit even when it peaked. It took about a week before I figured out it was the warmth causing the issue – and after another week of feeding cold water and keeping in the counter it bounced back.
Highly recommend against this. 0/10 will make you gag with the smell of highly acidic starter.
Am I mistaken or is that a device made to warm a candle? Don’t candles warm themselves?
I have an electric kettle with a flat top so I just boil some water to 90c and leave my jar of starter sitting on top, doubles super quick, and is strong enough for big fluffy loaves.
You can also put in the oven (oven off) with the light on.
I just use a mini heating pad and wrap it around!
That linen cap is going to result in a very dried out starter plus it tends to be a breeding ground for bacteria
I place on top of my dehydrator dialed to a lower setting.
I used to do this but my house is drafty that I still had issues. Caved and got a sourdough home 🤣
I put mine in a sock and put it near my oven. 😅 it definitely got a little mad at me when the weather changed, but she’s finally rising again!
I leave mine on my sound system receiver, just slightly warm. But it’s been 2 weeks and my starter still isn’t doubling so maybe don’t follow this advice..
Immediately after I feed it I submerge the sealed jar in a pitcher of hot-ish tap water. Not fully, just enough to cover the lower part of the jar. Then I remove it once the water has cooled and sit my starter on the counter. This has gotten her to rise in my normally chilly apartment!
A cloth “lid” is a one way ticket to moldville. It lets too much air in as opposed to a loose mason jar lid.