My sourdough starter went flat after a trip to Portland

I left my starter on the counter for three days while I was away, thinking it would be fine. Came back to a gray, watery mess that smelled like old gym socks. I tried feeding it twice a day for a week, but it never bounced back. Has anyone saved a starter that seemed completely dead?

3 comments

3 Comments

foster.mary16d ago

Wow, @elliot_thompson is right, mine took forever too!

robinson.leo16d ago

So your starter went to Portland and decided to become a sad puddle? Classic. Mine looked like that once and I swear it was just being dramatic. I kept feeding it like a sad little science project until it finally got over itself. Sometimes they just need to sulk for a bit.

elliot_thompson17d ago

My starter looked like that after a trip to Seattle last year. The gray liquid is just hooch, and the smell is normal for a starved starter. A week of feeding isn't always enough. Mine took almost two full weeks of regular feedings before it showed any real bubbles. You might just need more time and patience.