Why refrigerate starter?

Submitted by wescarina on February 20, 2012 - 2:01pm

I have had a sourdough starter that I keep in a mason jar on my counter for about 6mo. It makes great bread and I've never had any trouble with it. I see a lot of people talk about refrigerating their starter. Is it necessary or is it a personal preference? Does it just make it live longer between feedings and is convenient because of that? I figured that people kept live starters for many years before refrigeration existed so I've never bothered but I wonder every time I see it mentioned. Thanks

Submitted by gmagmabaking2 on February 20, 2012 - 2:52pm.

How often?

How often do you have to feed your starter with in on the counter... that idea appeals to me... but I wouldn't want to have to feed it everyday....??? In the fridge, I feed "Shirley, Mercy, and Goodness... every week.

Submitted by wescarina on February 20, 2012 - 3:16pm.

I feed once a week now, it

I feed once a week now, it was warmer in the house last summer and I fed it about every 4-5days then. On the counter I see it which reminds me to care for it. In the fridge. . . would probably be a different story.

Submitted by gmagmabaking2 on February 20, 2012 - 7:31pm.

Good point

I like the hydration level of yours... mine is more wet... I think when I feed it this week I will follow your lead. Thanks... I will see what happens. You are my inspiration!

Submitted by Janetcook on February 20, 2012 - 9:51pm.

I keep mine

I keep mine in the refrig. because it lasts longer and I don't have to do daily feeds.

I have a freshly milled ww starter and when I kept it on the counter I fed it 2x a day. It would have gone totally sour if I had left it for longer spells of time. There was a bit of 'waste' when maintaining it this way so I switched to the refrig.

When I need leaven I simply take a bit from the jar and do several builds until I have the exact amount that I need. Now I have no waste at all and when the refrig. starter is almost gone I simply add a bit extra to one of my leaven builds and that becomes my new storage starter so it is always pretty 'fresh'.

Janet

Submitted by Ambimom on February 21, 2012 - 9:53am.

I keep mine in the

I keep mine in the refrigerator because I only use [feed] it once every 14 to 16 days. It's been alive for three years+ . If I kept it on the counter, I'm afraid it would die from neglect.