Hi AK2020, I'm a little confused about your normal starter process and what you did incorrectly. Did you forget to discard? Normally, if you're following our sourdough starter recipe, a regular maintenance feeding involves discarding about 1 cup (8 ounces, 227g) of starter and feeding the remaining 1/2 cup (4 ounces, 113g) starter with 1/2 cup (4 ounces, 113g) water and 1 scant cup (4 ounces, 113g) flour. Did you forget to discard? The "mother" starter is the one you feed and maintain regularly, while the discard can be stored in the refrigerator and used for up to a week in recipes calling for discard. If what you stored up on top of your refrigerator was still just flour, water and starter (without any other added ingredients), then you can certainly get back on track with your feeding routine, and save some discard in the refrigerator. It won't cause any permanent harm to your starter if you accidentally forget to discard or add the wrong amount of flour or water—just return to the correct ratio of ingredients when it comes time for your next feeding. Once your mother starter is rising predictably, then you can give it one more feeding, let it sit out for 2-4 hours, and then store it in the refrigerator for up to a week. I hope this helps! Let us know how it goes. 

Barb

• Reply