[Oshkalaboomboom]

Interesting article. 2 sections that caught my attention were the one about so-called heirloom starters, 100 year old starters, etc., that confirmed my skepticism about them, and the fact that starters kept in the refrigerator produce blander breads. I keep some starter in the fridge but only as an emergency backup in case disaster strikes the starter I keep on the shelf, so I don't have to start completely over.

[Fungi]

It’s the fungi baby, the fungi. There’s a few Torula species, a few Saccharomyces, and some bacteria. They still don’t know all of them, but it does not matter, it works every time. Proof is in the “proofing,” if you know wht that means.

[Viking2002]

Dang, that reminds me! I got four gallons of microbrew to get started before the yeast turns on me!

[be-baw]

Too much work, including too much maintenance for me. I like sourdough bread but I buy mine at the best bread store in town, Breadsmith. Breadsmith bakeries are franchises, I believe, and there may even be one near you.

[imardmd1]

Wish I had what my wife made 55 years ago. Lost her through divorce but woukd have sued for the starter.

[dangus]

Two of them had streptococcus????

[metmom]

Anyone have any experience in starting and nurturing sour dough.

I’ve often thought of trying it, but have not yet taken the leap.

I am intrigued though and would like to.

[mountainlion]

So my pioneer ancestors were scientists? Who woulda thought

[RoosterRedux]

Bfl

[gattaca]

Thanks for posting. I’m going to forward this to my daughter. She’s quite the baker.

[TXnMA]

Thanks for the article!

Back when we were still in MA, we got started (pun intended) on sourdough -- and, we went wild with the stuff. We made all kinds of breads (Sourdough French bread is fantastic), biscuits, English muffins -- and, our favorite -- sourdough pancakes...

The trouble was -- we all started to "pack on the pounds"!

Only solution: gave all of the starter away to some other 'poor' family... '-)

TXnMA
  

[HartleyMBaldwin]

Thanks for posting. My mother used to use sourdough quite a bit (ah, those pancakes!), and one of my sisters-in-law still has some heirloom starter going back to the 1940s. Now that I’m retired, making sourdough is one of many projects on the list.

[Albion Wilde]

Ping!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

[Big Red Badger]

Smithsonian
Baking Channel!

[TianaHighrider]

Bookmarked!

Thank you.

[AppyPappy]

The panic caused a shortage of bread flour and yeast. We found some at an Amish Store and rescued a few people.