1. Come to a class! I teach both public and private classes every week, so check my facebook events. I give away free, fresh starter at all my classes, and it's hands-down the best way to get starter.
2. Mail away for some starter flakes. If you email my coauthor Caleb Warnock , calebwarnock@yahoo.com he will mail you starter flakes to reconstitute and grow your own starter with.
3. Start your own starter. Here is one of the best charts I have found to help you start your own starter:
Good luck with your starters, and remember that I'm always open for a little one-on-one email starter therapy! :)
Hi! I saw your segment on Studio 5 and am very intrigued. This stuff is right up my alley. But I am a geek I don't do facebook. (I know I'm the only one left). Would it be possible for you to post info for your classes here?
ReplyDeleteI'm only getting started in making my own bread from wild yeast. However, as a home brewer who is known for great Belgian beer, I have a lot of knowledge of culturing yeast to make starters. One interesting thing worth trying is getting beer yeast (liquid ale yeast works best). I have used this many times as I often want to get rid of some of my yeast. Another way is to take a beer (lambics are great for wild "yeast", just make sure the beer was not pasteurized) leave the bottle up right for at least a day. Then poor the beer into the glass(es) slowly (sediment will remain at the bottom of the bottle, when you pick a beer to use, get one with sediment on the bottom of the bottle). After pooring out 2/3 of the beer, poor a cup of non chlorinated water and swirl it around for about a minute, then either poor the water and yeast into the container you want to start your starter in and follow the steps you use to make a starer above (boiling the flour and then letting it cool before adding it to the yeast will provide the best results). However, these should be done on the counter until the starter is done.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your expertise! I have a friend in New York who makes her own sourdough, and her neighbor makes his own beer, so together they have one mighty fine bread-brewery :)(It really came in handy during hurricane Sandy lol)
DeleteI cannot read the chart. Is it in your book that I just ordered?
ReplyDeleteCheri you should be able to click on the chart to view it larger. Yes it is in the cookbook. I also just emailed you some basic instructions.
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