Post # 1

Member
2674 posts
Sugar bee
- Wedding: July 2012 - Catholic Church
Hi all, I started this sourdough starter about 5 days ago and I just finished the last step in the instructions. I’m wondering what I should do next and also if it’s too early to separate it and get a starter going for my mother.
Edit: I’m also wondering what it should smell like. It smells sort of rancid to me. I’ve never eaten sourdough before though and I have no idea what to expect from this.
Post # 3

Member
2674 posts
Sugar bee
- Wedding: July 2012 - Catholic Church
Is there anyone on weddingbee who has worked with sourdough starter before? I could really use some advice.
Post # 4

Member
186 posts
Blushing bee
My husband is a baker and makes amazing sour dough (when we have the starter). It is supposed to smell “acidic” or “sour” because it is fermenting, after all – so don’t worry about smell.
If its alive and well, you should be good to give some to your mother. Just make sure you tell her how to charge it to keep it alive!
Post # 5

Member
7904 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
- Wedding: March 2012 - Pelican Grand Beach Resort
It depends on how big the starter is… I would see if you can get ahold of inf. From Peter Reinhart online or at the library or something. He should have something in there about how much starter you need before you can separate it.
Post # 6

Member
2674 posts
Sugar bee
- Wedding: July 2012 - Catholic Church
@PhillyProper: Thanks! I thought it should smell sour based on the name but people online describe it as sweet, so I was confused. The instructions for the starter I’m doing don’t actually have info for feeding the starter so I’m not sure what to do with it. It seems to be bread dough-like and not liquidy like the pictures I’ve seen online when I google it so I haven’t been able to figure out how to keep feeding it.
@mrsSonthebeach: It’s a fair size right now. I’d say I have at least 3 cups of it.