Attn: Larry Mac

[kolka]

I tried to pm you with an important question. Did you get it?

[larry mac]

kool kolka,

Here's my muffin recipe. I use all the options and have had good luck with it. Note, these are not a light dessert type muffin. I use them for mini-meals.

yours truly, lm

2 eggs (warmed or room temp)

[kolka]

Thanks, Larry.

Now, for the sourdough starter - I've been mixing and feeding mine everyday. At what point can I store it in the fridge? How long can it stay in the fridge without feeding and mixing it? Does storing it int the fridge compromise its quality - I mean, no yeast in the air in the fridge as there is yeast in the air in the kitchen. Can it be left indefinitely out of the fridge as long as I feed/mix it everyday (every other day)?

[larry mac]

Thanks, Larry.

Now, for the sourdough starter - I've been mixing and feeding mine everyday. At what point can I store it in the fridge? How long can it stay in the fridge without feeding and mixing it? Does storing it int the fridge compromise its quality - I mean, no yeast in the air in the fridge as there is yeast in the air in the kitchen. Can it be left indefinitely out of the fridge as long as I feed/mix it everyday (every other day)?

k,

First off, be warned, I don't consider myself to be a sourdough starter expert ( I am however a sourdough bread eating expert). Having said that, here's my experience.

It can be stored in the fridge after the first few days. Actually, all the fridge does is slow down the activity, so you can put it in there anytime you want. It's like a "slow pause". It does need to be warmed up of course before you use it.

How often to feed it? That is a question I don't know the exact answer to. I will say I've killed them by not doing it often enough. Probably once a week would be enough.

Storing in the fridge doesn't alter anything other than the rate of growth or activity. After you initially get it going (either by adding a ordinary storebought yeast, a specialty sourdough yeast product, or using wild yeast) that yeast becomes the dominant culture. One, the container is closed in the fridge. And two, there is yeast in the fridge, it's everywhere, but we don't concern ourselves with that yeast.

Yes you can leave it out all the time. You just have to renew it more often. Every two or three days maybe. Depends on various factors. It's very important to also remove some and either use it or discard it. You need to get rid of some of the waste biproducts of the yeast activity so they don't build up and become toxic. So you take