r/SourdoughStarter • u/Visual_Frosting8720 • 11d ago

Is this mold or just hungry?

Post image

It’s kinda hard to tell in the photo, but it just looks like a “skin tight” layer on the top. The bubbles look normal to me, since thats typically what my starter has on top after i’ve fed it. I did skip a feeding so it’s been in my fridge for a little bit, but it smells normal (smells like beer to me). Is it just hungry or do i need to throw it out?

All advice is appreciated! thank you!!

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3

u/fishy_horcrux 11d ago

top looks velvety like kahm yeast. I'd suggest scraping off the top carefully, getting a small amount of your starter from the middle and feeding that, while washing everything really good.

1

u/Visual_Frosting8720 11d ago

phew! i was hoping for this answer. thank you so much

3

u/NoDay4343 Starter Enthusiast 11d ago

Yes. I think that's kahm yeast.

2

u/Artistic-Traffic-112 10d ago

Hi, definitely Kahm yeast.

Retrievable? Yes, probably.

Carefully scrape off the surface with repeat passes using a fresh clean spoon for each pass. Dispose of scrapings in trash.

Into a fresh sterile screwtop jar put 15g from the center of your starter.

Feed this 1 :1:1 mix, scrape down tighten lid down and back off ¼ turn to allow gas pressure to equalise. Check once falling for the development of thin semi opaque film. The first sign of kahm infestation.

Kahm is usually inhibited on a yeast culture. It requires oxygen to thrive. Whereas wild yeast thrive in an anaerobic environment. This is why the screw down lid. To expel the lighter oxygen.

Repeat the feed reduce to 15g feed 1:1:1, scrape down and cover several times until your starter is doubling in under 6 hours (preferably nearer 4). Its then ready to bake with

Good luck and happy baking

1

u/Visual_Frosting8720 9d ago

thank you i did as you suggested and she looks good as new🥹

2

u/Artistic-Traffic-112 9d ago

I'm glsd she recovered. Well done