In 2021 I moved and in the commotion I lost my three year old starter. I visited my parent’s house a week ago and while in the kitchen I noticed on a high shelf what looked like my starter jar. I pulled it down and to my absolute surprise was a sour and yeasty smelling (like marmite or vegemite) puck of old starter. I decided to revive the started by breaking up and soaking the puck in water. Once dissolved I added bread flout until the consistency was starter appropriate. After two subsequent feeding she is now as active as ever. I’m getting more flour today and am very excited to make a loaf or two with this now seven year old starter.
by PiPopoopo
10 Comments
Zombie loaf, please give an update
Well this gives me hope that I don’t need to waste flour feeding my starter so often, it can completely dry up and survive!
How did it get dehydrated like that if it was in a jar, presumably starting at 100% hydration? I’d expect it to look like the second pic from the get-go.
See how resilient starters are? This shows that starters do not need frequent feeding to keep alive. I love this for you. I can only imagine the feeling of finding a long lost beloved thing.
Wow!
I just read that, for future reference, you can dry out a starter and then rehydrate it, but is there some way it “should” be done?
Edit: CAN, not can’t. Goddamn autocorrect
Gratz on finding the family member.
At first i thought it was a puck of hash… really happy you got your starter back though!
Yeast and bacteria are the top of the evolutionary food chain and I can’t be swayed on this.
Just thinking “out loud” but could this be a bacterial “false rise?