Hi Becky, I discarded the hootch in this post because it was very dark and unappetizing and I felt it was not going to contribute anything positive to the starter. Hooch is basically sourdough waste, and although it may contribute some acidity and alcohol flavor to the starter, it's not necessary for optimum sourdough health. More importantly, hooch tends to develop when the starter is undernourished, so feeding it before it gets to this point is generally a more successful approach. That being said, if the hooch is clear it shouldn't hurt to stir it in, and you certainly haven't done any harm by doing so. I'm hoping by now your starter has taken off and is rising well, but if you're still having issues, please consider giving our Baker's Hotline a call at 855-371-2253, so that we can help you troubleshoot. Barb

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