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    Home » Recipes » How To Deal With Sourdough Starter Burnout

    How To Deal With Sourdough Starter Burnout

    September 26, 2021 by Melinda

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Learn how to deal with sourdough burnout, stop feeding your sourdough starter, and still have sourdough starter on hand for baking with this one easy tip.

    When I made my first sourdough starter I was filled with excited anticipation for that first loaf of bread. I nurtured that starter for WEEKS and followed the directions meticulously, weighing each ingredient to make sure everything was perfect. Ultimately I had a great starter but at the end I was tired.

    Tired of daily feedings, tired of measuring, and tired of just trying to REMEMBER to take care of this new little “being” that was in my life.

    Needless to say that stater didn’t make it long. This busy working mom just didn’t have the energy to maintain it over the long run (or so I thought), nor had I discovered all the little tricks that makes starting and maintaining a sourdough starter manageable with a busy lifestyle.

    So I’m here to show you easiest way to deal with sourdough burnout that will allow you a much needed break and still have sourdough starter on hand whenever you want.

    rising sourdough starter in a glass jar

    What to do when you don’t want to maintain your sourdough starter anymore.

    1. First thing…don’t throw it away.
    2. Put the sourdough starter into the refrigerator with a loose fitting lid on.
    3. Walk away and don’t thing think about it again for a week, 2 weeks, or even months.

    It is that easy!

    I have kept mine in the refrigerator, untouched and unfed, for 8 months and it produced the best rustic dutch oven sourdough bread I have ever made. If you’re concerned about leaving it for that long then you can easily take it out and feed before sticking it back into the refrigerator.

    Don’t be concerned if the top forms a black liquid while sitting in the refrigerator. This is normal and you can easily revive a neglected black sourdough starter with superior results.

    Whenever the baking mood strikes or sourdough season comes around again then you can pull it from the refrigerator and revive the sourdough starter by following these easy steps.

    rising sourdough starter in a glass jar
    Print

    How To Deal With Sourdough Starter Burnout

    Learn how to deal with sourdough burnout, stop feeding your sourdough starter, and still have sourdough starter on hand for baking.
    Prep Time1 min
    Total Time1 min
    Course: Bread
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: how to avoid feeding your sourdough starter daily, sourdough burnout, sourdough starter success, sourdough starter tips
    Author: Mel | Missouri Girl Home

    Instructions

    • Resist the urge to throw it away! This important because too many sourdough starters get thrown away in frustration. There is a much easier way.
    • Place the sourdough starter in a glass storage container with a loose fitting lid.
    • Place it in the refrigerator.
    • Walk away.
    • You can store it in the refrigerator for days, weeks, or even months.
    • When you are ready to resume baking just remove the sourdough starter from the refrigerator and resume a feeding schedule until the starter is active and bubbly.
    « How To Feed And Maintain A Sourdough Starter [Without a Scale]
    How To Revive A Sourdough Starter [Troubleshooting Sourdough Starter Problems] »

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    Melinda at countertop of MissouriGirl.com I’m Melinda. I’m a wife, mother, physical therapist, runner, and a born and bred Missouri Girl. I love creating a cozy home on a budget and created Missouri Girl Home to bring inspiring, beautiful, and budget-friendly ideas to your home. Read more about Mel.

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