Is the sourdough starter strong enough?

I often get questions about my recipes and other things that concern sourdough baking.
And that ‘s fun. I mean, the main reason why I’m running this blog is to share the knowledge I have about the craft of sourdough baking.
It’s always very satisfying to get feedback about a recipe or post.
It also feels great to be able to help people with issues they have regarding fermentation, shaping, and other obstacles they may encounter.

However, it’s not always that easy. Sometimes it’s almost impossible.

Let me explain.

IS MY SOURDOUGH STARTER STRONG ENOUGH?

This is by far the most common question I get. Quite often, there is a description of the feeding process, and sometimes there is a photo.
If the photo shows a starter that is breaking out of the container and making a complete mess, it is most certainly strong enough.
You can probably figure out that yourself, even if you are a beginner.
Therefore, I seldom get that kind of photos.

Most of the time, it shows a starter that has expanded a bit and have some bubbles on the surface.
Sometimes I can determine by just looking at it that it is not going to deliver that marvelous bread you are dreaming of.
But sometimes it’s not that easy.

You never get this question from experienced sourdough bakers. They know their starter. By just looking at it, they can immediately determine if it’s in good shape or not.
And it’s not only about the volume increase. It’s also about how it smells and its consistency.

Oh yeah? Well, that’s why I’m asking because I don’t have that knowledge yet, you may think now.
That is, of course, true.
You should always ask as soon as you are wondering about something.
It will lead you in the right direction much quicker than if you’re trying to figure out everything by yourself. But try to add more information to your question.

IT HAS PASSED THE FLOAT TEST

My sourdough starter has doubled in volume, and it has passed the float test. Is it strong enough?
This question is better. Suddenly I know much more about your starter, but sometimes I need to know even more.
So my answer uses to be, perhaps. Can you give me some more information, please?

You can almost feel the disappointment sometimes.
Because, that is not the answer you wanted to hear, right?
How much does he need to know?
After all, you are visiting Sourdough&olives because I’m supposed to have knowledge about these things.
And the only answer you get is perhaps.
Very frustrating, I know, but it’s the only answer I can give if I don’t get more information.
Why don’t you give it a try and see what happen?
Not everybody likes that advice.
Which is sad, because it is good advice.
More about that later.

IT’S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE

A sourdough starter is somewhat complex to deal with.
But it’s not rocket science. You mix water with flour and let it sit for a couple of days.
Hopefully, it starts to bubble.
Sometimes it’s not.
But when you have managed to get a mature sourdough starter, it’s very resilient. You have to neglect it a lot to kill it.
But that does not mean that it will always behave the same as you want.
Sometimes it doesn’t want to cooperate at all.
It happens to me too. Not very often, but it happens.
And sometimes I don’t have any idea why.

Imagine then how hard it can be to give an answer to why somebody else’s starter, which I can’t even see, smell or touch, decides to be obstinate.
Sometimes it is obvious. But most of the times I have to guess.
And sometimes I guess wrong.

BE CAREFUL ON FACEBOOK

This dilemma becomes very evident in social media, like Facebook.
Go to a group about sourdough baking and read the posts.
Sooner or later, you will find a question like this.
My bread becomes flat and dense. Any idea why?
And then they show a photo of the bread.
Then comes all the replies.
It’s over-proofed, it’s under-proofed, it’s not shaped enough, starter not strong enough, etc.
The list goes long.

Sometimes it amazes me how people can be so sure by just looking at a photo.
And I’m not alone, because there use to be at least a few replies that ask for more information.
You can get tons of valuable advice on facebook, no doubt about that. But you can also get a lot of answers that are quite useless.
If an answer has no explanation whatsoever as to why a conclusion has been reached. it has little value.
So go for the ones that ask for more information. It’s no guarantee that they will lead you right, but at least they will probably give you a more though-out answer.

GIVE ME ALL THE INFORMATION YOU HAVE

I hope that this blog post doesn’t sound haughty.
It’s not my intention.
I know how it is to be a beginner. We have all been there.
And I do encourage you to ask for help if you have problems with your baking.
Just try to add as much information as possible. It will make it much easier for me or anybody else to give a valuable answer.
Let’s say you have issues with your sourdough starter. You wonder if it’s strong enough.
Instead of just telling me about a float test and volume increase, you can also add something about the consistency. Is it runny or is a bit gel-like? Is it a new or old starter? Have you baked with it before? Was it successful? Did you do anything differently? How does it smell? What’s the hydration? What kind of flour have you used?

Do you see? There is so much information you can provide, that will make it easier for us to to give you the answers you need.

BUT SOMETIMES SHIT HAPPENS

Sometimes nothing helps. It just doesn’t work, despite all the good advice you have received. And when that happens, please don’t despair, and try not to look at it as a failure.
Shit happens.
And you have learned something, even if you are not aware of it.
Every time you bake bread, you will learn something.
It may feel like you are stuck, and nothing progresses. But if you don’t give up, you will eventually realize that you know so much more than just a month ago.

Your starter is a living creature that has the right to have a bad day now and then, just like you.
But even if it seems to have a bad day, it can still perform. Perhaps it is strong enough.

So, remember what I said earlier. Just give it a try and see what happens. You may be surprised.

And you will learn something.
I promise.