[Lardman]

After his first feed yesterday "Frank" needs a container and a new home.

In what and where does everyone keep their starter ?

[New shoot]

I use a tall lidded jar - think it originally held brined cucumbers.

Just washed it out really well and sterlised jar and lid in the oven 

[sunshineband]

I had mine in a clean glass bowl covered in clingfilm  :happy:

[Lardman]

Ive got him in a lidded casserole dish sitting on top of my server at the moment... (not ideal)

There must be about 2 1/2 pts in there - can I out him on a diet next feed ? He's need a very big jar to fit in. I've followed HFW's method in RC bread book.

[Slowgrind]

I've tried to keep mine in a tupperware type tub with the lid a little loose.
Each time I've ended up with a bit of a slimy mess!
I'll keep trying though!
Is it supposed to have a pungent smell and a sleight green grey tint?

[PAULW]

I kept mine in a tall jar with a clean tea towel covering it held on with an elastic band, suposed to collect wild yeasts this way.

[Slowgrind]

Have you had any results? :blink:

[Lardman]

Im still looking for a jar big enough 

Frank needs to be fed for a week ?! before I can use him... This bread better be really nice !

[New shoot]

That sounds like a big starter Lardman    My Augustus is about 3 cups worth.  You only need a a cup or so to start a dough off.

Augustus was started with 1 cup of flour and 1 of water.  You wait till you see bubbles forming then go on the feeding regime, which is half the volume removed each day and  the remaining mix has a cup of flour and a cup of warm water whisked into it.  After a week the starter should be motoring so you can bake with it, but after you have taken what you want to make your bread, feed it and stick it in the fridge.  Then you only have to feed once a week.  You can even freeze it for a couple of months if you want.

A lidded jar is preferable as it is the natural yeasts in the flour you want rather to be multiplying in there.  If the container has air gaps you risk getting contamination from less friendly stuff floating around in the atmosphere 

[New shoot]

I've tried to keep mine in a tupperware type tub with the lid a little loose.
Each time I've ended up with a bit of a slimy mess!
I'll keep trying though!
Is it supposed to have a pungent smell and a sleight green grey tint?

That doesn't sound right Slowgrind  Chuck it and start again but put the lid tightly onto your container.  It should be a thick batter although it will separate a bit into cloudy water and thicker gunky layers.  It should smell a bit sour - a bit like beer brewing - but a pungent smell is not right.

If anyone is near me and wants some starter, I can easily multiply Augustus up to share so pm me  

[Lardman]

That sounds like a big starter Lardman 

I followed HF whathisfaces method in River cottage Handbook N03. 150g of wholemeal flour and 250ml of water, which I think is about a coffee mug of each.

I know a "cup" is a comparative measure but how many ml / g would you say ?

Must go and feed him I forgot yesterday 

[mumofstig]

Are you throwing half away each time you feed it, Lardman?

[Lardman]

Are you throwing half away each time you feed it, Lardman?

Yes, after the first feeding. So he's about 500ml of water 300g of flour which is roughly 1ltr of batter. (+/- ).

Should I divide him, let him sit for a day and then divide again and feed him ?

[New shoot]

You could do. 

I've got some american cup measures so I use these, but the 1 cup measure is only 250ml.  I've just fed Augustus and poured in a jug to see how big he is and he's around 1 pint, so just over 500ml   

[Lardman]

You could do. 

I did do..  He was a bit lethargic, I cut him down to 300ml in total and add a stiff paste of flour / water.  He fits in a large mayonnaise jar now and it very active.

I might see if I can find a recipe for making a s.d. loaf in the breadmaker tomorrow.