Author Topic: hi, have questions with activating culture (Read 5943 times)

koloa101 · « **on:** February 22, 2009, 11:07:43 AM »

hi all,
i ordered ed's book and the italian cultures. i activated the cal.culture and its been in the proof box for 20 hrs at 85 degrees. i notice that there is liquid that is forming at the top. i guess thats the 'hooch'; am i correct? In ed's book it states that if its in the middle or bottom, thats not a good sign. however, how about when its at the top?

Matthew · « **Reply #1 on:** February 22, 2009, 11:11:36 AM »

Quote from: koloa101 on February 22, 2009, 11:07:43 AM

hi all,
i ordered ed's book and the italian cultures. i activated the cal.culture and its been in the proof box for 20 hrs at 85 degrees. i notice that there is liquid that is forming at the top. i guess thats the 'hooch'; am i correct? In ed's book it states that if its in the middle or bottom, thats not a good sign. however, how about when its at the top?

Sounds like you're okay. Hooch on top is a good sign. The ultimate test is to smell & taste it, then you'll know for sure. Good luck!

Matt

koloa101 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 22, 2009, 05:19:21 PM »

hi,
not sure what foam looks like but it seems there are bubbles everywhere. here is the culture at 28 hrs. does activation look complete? is it suppose to smell ummm, musty wet flour like?

the green line indicates the second feeding start place.

koloa101 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 22, 2009, 05:23:22 PM »

hi matthew, i saw your picture you posted in the other thread. it seems mine looks like yours sort of but the bottom of my jar has bubbles as well. did i over ferment? after i posted aout the hooch, a few hrs later that hooch disappeared.

Quote from: Matthew on February 22, 2009, 11:11:36 AM

Sounds like you're okay. Hooch on top is a good sign. The ultimate test is to smell & taste it, then you'll know for sure. Good luck!

Matt

Matthew · « **Reply #4 on:** February 22, 2009, 08:15:13 PM »

Quote from: koloa101 on February 22, 2009, 05:19:21 PM

hi,
not sure what foam looks like but it seems there are bubbles everywhere. here is the culture at 28 hrs. does activation look complete? is it suppose to smell ummm, musty wet flour like?

the green line indicates the second feeding start place.

K,
28 hours seems a but early for it to be fully activated. I'm assuming that you've only done one feeding after the initial 24hours. What temperature are you fermenting at?

koloa101 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 22, 2009, 09:34:34 PM »

hi,
i am currently fermenting at 85 and i am on my first feeding. i got an email from ed and he said to wait a few more days. if thats the case, i am ok with dumping half and refeeding? i guess there is a 'foam' that i should be waiting for to see?

s00da · « **Reply #6 on:** February 23, 2009, 12:06:50 AM »

koloa101,

I agree with Matt. 28 hours seems to soon. It's not impossible but much faster than anyone I've seen on the forum so far.

It seems like Ed wants to be certain that you have no contamination by allowing few more days.

Good luck,
s00da

Matthew · « **Reply #7 on:** February 23, 2009, 06:29:56 AM »

Quote from: koloa101 on February 22, 2009, 09:34:34 PM

hi,
i am currently fermenting at 85 and i am on my first feeding. i got an email from ed and he said to wait a few more days. if thats the case, i am ok with dumping half and refeeding? i guess there is a 'foam' that i should be waiting for to see?

Continue feeding at room temperature (71-73deg) for a few days. The reason that you are seeing some much growth so fast is because your fermenting temperature of 85 deg is making your culture very acidic. Feed for a couple (2-3) more days & see what happens, if it is not fully active by then, it may have become too acidic. At this stage you may have to do a wash, but just wait & see. Although Ed's book & instructions are very good, he neglects to mention that after the initial 24hrs of activation, continued feedings should be at room temperature .

koloa101 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 23, 2009, 09:43:55 AM »

hi,
thanks all for the help. hwere is what it looks like this morning, roughly around 40hrs. i gave it another feeding before i left for work. i can see a little hooch in the middle?

s00da · « **Reply #9 on:** February 23, 2009, 04:58:52 PM »

koloa101,

That looks like contamination to me. I suggest you follow the washing procedure in Ed's manual until it clears up. Washing will never hurt your starter.

s00da

koloa101 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 23, 2009, 05:13:25 PM »

hi thanks for the input...i just would like to clarify the washing process.

it states to dump everything except 1 cup of the culture..and then fill the WHOLE container with warm water?...warm water as in 85 degree water? next, dump everything except 1 cup of that and then feed 1 cup flour and 3/4 cups warm water. is this correct? next keep culture at 71-72 degrees or stay at 85?

also, i can feed with bread flour right?

is the above picture suppose to look like what i am trying to achieve except for the accumulation of hooch in the center? that the hooch should be on the top layer?

koloa101 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 23, 2009, 07:47:08 PM »

hi all,
here is what the culture looks like now. it seems the hooch is now gone? is it ready to be refrigerated? before i put it in the fridge, i read that i should feed and let sit for an hour. is that correct? total time is around 53 hrs.

s00da · « **Reply #12 on:** February 24, 2009, 04:37:53 AM »

koloa101,

I cannot really answer the question if one wash would be enough or not. From my own experience, I washed the starter 4 times eventhough it cleared up like yours from the first wash.

It's your choice or you can always ask Ed

s00da

Matthew · « **Reply #13 on:** February 24, 2009, 06:22:06 AM »

Quote from: koloa101 on February 23, 2009, 07:47:08 PM

hi all,
here is what the culture looks like now. it seems the hooch is now gone? is it ready to be refrigerated? before i put it in the fridge, i read that i should feed and let sit for an hour. is that correct? total time is around 53 hrs.

K,
Judging from this photo; definitely not ready yet. Keep feeding at room temperature for at least another day, if it's not ready by then, you may want to consider a single wash & continue to feed & proof at room temperature.

Matt

koloa101 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 24, 2009, 07:11:49 AM »

will do thanks all!

not sure what to do last night, i placed the culture in the fridge. i will take it out now and do a feeding and see what happens when i return from work!

koloa101 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 24, 2009, 10:40:14 AM »

In the picture posted in the other thread below about activation, it seems the whole culture has bubbles. is there foam present at the top? i could not really tell from the photo. is this what i am trying to achieve?

thanks for the help!

Quote from: Matthew on February 24, 2009, 06:22:06 AM

K,
Judging from this photo; definitely not ready yet. Keep feeding at room temperature for at least another day, if it's not ready by then, you may want to consider a single wash & continue to feed & proof at room temperature.

Matt

Matthew · « **Reply #16 on:** February 24, 2009, 06:32:50 PM »

Quote from: koloa101 on February 24, 2009, 10:40:14 AM

In the picture posted in the other thread below about activation, it seems the whole culture has bubbles. is there foam present at the top? i could not really tell from the photo. is this what i am trying to achieve?

thanks for the help!

K,
Your looking for a thick batter like consistency full of little air bubbles with no foam. If you're getting alot of foam it could be that your culture is too acidic. The only way to reduce the acidity is by washing.
Matt

koloa101 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 24, 2009, 10:40:41 PM »

oh ok, i was not sure if little bubbles meant foam. right now, the culture is starting to get more bubbles and on the very top layer, there are small areas of 'foam' forming. ill se how it looks tomorrow.

thanks for the help!

koloa101 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 25, 2009, 06:35:08 PM »

well....there is not much action going on. the culture still looks like post 11. i currently have it at 72 degrees and its been 4 days. keep going?

also, i am somewhat confused about the initial activation process. in the book, it states that activation is complete when there is an inch or 2 of foam at the top. however, thats not really the case?

i read your other posts...since there is not much activity going on, maybe its too acidic and needs a washing...

Bill/SFNM · « **Reply #19 on:** February 25, 2009, 07:10:31 PM »

I am confused about your confusion. The Italian instruction booklet I have (maybe it is an old version) clearly discusses the importance of temperature when activating (top of page 6 in my copy) and calls for 85F-90F throughout the activation for a higher acidity to suppress contamination. Why are people in this thread talking about much lower temps? Have there been new instructions published?

Bill/SFNM