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[rawcalls]

I just received both of these cultures from Sourdo.com and have a few questions about the instructions on activating them.  In the instructions it says to use a quart jar.  It states to mix the culture with 3/4 cup of flour and 1 cup of warm water and let proof for 24 hours.  Then it says to feed the culture 1 cup of water and 3/4 cup water every 6-12 hours.  It says to not let the jar become more than 2/3 full and to transfer some to a second jar when the first jar becomes too full.  It states that this will probably take 3-5 days.  My question is - going by the stated measurements, it seems like I am going to have to use a second jar fairly soon in the process.  If I feed the cultures every 12 hours for 4 days by my calculations (not too good at math so I might be way off) that comes to 10.5 cups of flour/water.  A quart jar would be 2/3 full with 2 2/3 cups flour/water mixture so it seems like I am going to need a lot more than 2 quart jars.  To me it looks like I will only be able to feed once before the quart jar is 2/3 full.  My other question is once you divide the culture into the second jar, do you also divide the feeding of 1 cup flour and 3/4 cup water between the 2 jars equally or do you feed each jar a full feeding?  Sorry if these seem like dumb questions but I just don't want to screw these things up.  Thanks.

[Matthew]

I just received both of these cultures from Sourdo.com and have a few questions about the instructions on activating them.  In the instructions it says to use a quart jar.  It states to mix the culture with 3/4 cup of flour and 1 cup of warm water and let proof for 24 hours.  Then it says to feed the culture 1 cup of water and 3/4 cup water every 6-12 hours.  It says to not let the jar become more than 2/3 full and to transfer some to a second jar when the first jar becomes too full.  It states that this will probably take 3-5 days.  My question is - going by the stated measurements, it seems like I am going to have to use a second jar fairly soon in the process.  If I feed the cultures every 12 hours for 4 days by my calculations (not too good at math so I might be way off) that comes to 10.5 cups of flour/water.  A quart jar would be 2/3 full with 2 2/3 cups flour/water mixture so it seems like I am going to need a lot more than 2 quart jars.  To me it looks like I will only be able to feed once before the quart jar is 2/3 full.  My other question is once you divide the culture into the second jar, do you also divide the feeding of 1 cup flour and 3/4 cup water between the 2 jars equally or do you feed each jar a full feeding?  Sorry if these seem like dumb questions but I just don't want to screw these things up.  Thanks.

My question is - going by the stated measurements, it seems like I am going to have to use a second jar fairly soon in the process.

Yes it's best not to discard any starter until you are certain that contamination has not occurred.  After that, while continuing with both jars you can begin to discard before you feed.  Do all your feedings & proof at room temperature.  I know that the instructions say to proof @ 80-85 degrees but at that temperature you have a very good chance of the starter becoming over acidic & if that happens your going to have to wash it which can be a bit of a pain.


My other question is once you divide the culture into the second jar, do you also divide the feeding of 1 cup flour and 3/4 cup water between the 2 jars equally or do you feed each jar a full feeding?

Yes continue feeding 1 cup flour & 3/4 water per jar.

Good Luck,
Matt

[rawcalls]

thanks for the quick response.  My problem is that by my calculations I will need about 4 quart jars (not 2)  by the end of the 4th day.  Does that sound right?

[Matthew]

thanks for the quick response.  My problem is that by my calculations I will need about 4 quart jars (not 2)  by the end of the 4th day.  Does that sound right?

Just keep 2 going.  You can discard all but 2 cups once the jars are 3/4 full.

Matt

[rawcalls]

Thanks for your help with all of this.  Do you discard before you feed or after you feed?

[Matthew]

Thanks for your help with all of this.  Do you discard before you feed or after you feed?

Before.

Matt

[rawcalls]

Once a culture is active and put in the refrigerator, how often do you need to feed it if you are not using it?

[Matthew]

Once a culture is active and put in the refrigerator, how often do you need to feed it if you are not using it?

The more frequently you feed it, the more active it becomes.  If you would like to keep it very active, you should feed it once a week at the very least.

Matt

[rawcalls]

So do you just take it out of the fridge, feed it and put it directly back in the fridge? Also, do you feed it the full amount (1 cup flour. 3/4 cup water).  Sorry about all of the questions but the instructions that came with the starters don't answer these questions.  Thanks.

[Matthew]

So do you just take it out of the fridge, feed it and put it directly back in the fridge? Also, do you feed it the full amount (1 cup flour. 3/4 cup water).  Sorry about all of the questions but the instructions that came with the starters don't answer these questions.  Thanks.

No, I remove from the fridge & let sit for about half an hour, mix, feed, mix, proof, use what I need, reserve 1 1/2 cups, toss the rest, place reserve in clean container, feed,mix, sit for an hour, refrigerate.

How much you feed it is up to you as long as you don't feed more that your initial starter amount.   I go by weight & not volume to ensure that my starter is always the exact consistency.

Matt

[artigiano]

My camoldoli sits in the fridge and i only take it out maybe once a month to use it.  After one or two feedings it is so active that a mason jar filled halfway will overflow into my proofer.  I am glad its so active but it requires a little more work in cleaning the proofer to deal with the volcanic eruption from this starter.

Alessandro

[rawcalls]

Do you pour the "hooch" off or mix it back in?

[Bill/SFNM]

Do you pour the "hooch" off or mix it back in?

I always mix it back in. Usually there is none unless I left it dormant for a while.