Hi Betty, is this a starter that you are creating from scratch? I've seen this happen occasionally during the early days of this process. I think this is more likely to occur in a starter that has more water than flour by weight, so you might want to consider adjusting your ratio of ingredients a bit. If you're following our sourdough starter recipe, aim for a thick, but still easily stirrable paste consistency right after a feeding. Just stir the starter together well before discarding and feeding again. If this occurred in a starter that you've had stored in the refrigerator for a while, it sounds like a few days of twice a day feedings at room temperature may be warranted to restore it back to its normal appearance and rising behavior.
January 20, 2023 at 4:37pm
In reply to What do I do if there is… by Betty (not verified)
Hi Betty, is this a starter that you are creating from scratch? I've seen this happen occasionally during the early days of this process. I think this is more likely to occur in a starter that has more water than flour by weight, so you might want to consider adjusting your ratio of ingredients a bit. If you're following our sourdough starter recipe, aim for a thick, but still easily stirrable paste consistency right after a feeding. Just stir the starter together well before discarding and feeding again. If this occurred in a starter that you've had stored in the refrigerator for a while, it sounds like a few days of twice a day feedings at room temperature may be warranted to restore it back to its normal appearance and rising behavior.