Wheat Flour Sourdough Starters

[larry mac 19]

Just discovered a variety of fresh sourdough starters very reasonably priced ($7-$10 w/ free shipping).

If starting with a volume of one ounce, immediately adding one cup gluten-free flour & one cup water/milk, then replacing one cup every few days, how long till completely wheat free (ie. safe for celiacs)?

best regards, lm

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http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/detail...C89&id=1522

http://www.sourdoughbreads.com/Sourdough_Starter.htm

p.s., There are even more dried starters available, but I'm thinking they would also need to be "diluted" numerous times.

[Nancym 4]

Hey, this is interesting. Try using kefir whey as a starter: http://www.rejoiceinlife.com/recipes/starter.php

It sounds like it should have all the bacteria you need.

I think I'll try it. I have kefir cultures ready to go.

[Nantzie 2]

I don't have anything useful to add, but I can't wait to hear how this turns out. I love(d) sourdough bread.

Nancy

[ravenwoodglass 1,429]

Just discovered a variety of fresh sourdough starters very reasonably priced ($7-$10 w/ free shipping).

If starting with a volume of one ounce, immediately adding one cup gluten-free flour & one cup water/milk, then replacing one cup every few days, how long till completely wheat free (ie. safe for celiacs)?

best regards, lm

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/detail...C89&id=1522

http://www.sourdoughbreads.com/Sourdough_Starter.htm

p.s., There are even more dried starters available, but I'm thinking they would also need to be "diluted" numerous times.

I believe never would be the appropriate response here. I wouldn't chance it myself.

There are companies that make gluten free starters or perhaps you can find a recipe for one.

[Cheri A 3]

I used to have a sourdough started that only had water, sugar, yeast and potato flakes in it. It was very delicious. I wonder if it would work gluten-free. Although, it isn't the "traditional" sourdough taste like you'd buy at a bakery. Hmm....

[GRUMP 1 0]

Could you get the same effect ( taste wise ) using Buttermilk or slightly soured milk?

[larry mac 19]

Could you get the same effect ( taste wise ) using Buttermilk or slightly soured milk?

Hey grump 1,

I actually do sometimes use buttermilk for cooking. But no, it's not the same as a good sourdough. I take it your not a sourdough bread lover. I go way back. Before the time when you could get a loaf of California Sourdough in just about any grocery store. Used to be you had to go out of your way to get it, if you could get it at all. They ship it in frozen now. All they really do in the store is thaw it out and put it out. It's damn good though.

A sourdough bread lover can easily tell (by just a quick whiff) if it's a genuine sourdough or just a local grocery store bakery bread containing an "additive" (a product to mimic the sourdough taste). Though sometimes quite tasty, there's simply no comparisan. Another fast tipoff is the crust. Oh God, the crust. You can easily chip a tooth on the real thing. And I have (broken off a crown).

Yes, sometimes I've had hot, crusty bread and the best butter for a meal. No wonder I turned out to be a Celiac. Now, if only I could make gluten-free bread that looks like the cover of Bette Hagmans bread book (what a rip-off). I challenge anyone to come up with something resembling anything on the cover of "The Gluten-Free Gourmet Bakes Bread".

best regards, lm

p.s., I'm not bitter, I'm sour!

p.s.s., Ha Ha lol yeah yeah.

[Nantzie 2]

p.s., I'm not bitter, I'm sour!

Nancy

[lpellegr 19]

To answer the original question, every dilution you do would still leave behind some wheat flour. You could dilute it so many times that the statistical chances of having any wheat molecules left behind would be practically zero, but how low is low enough for you to safely eat it, and how many dilutions must you do to get there? I wouldn't feel safe using it. True sourdough starter is just wild yeast picked up from the air that come to live in the flour/water/sugar you leave out on the counter. You can also do this with rice flour or potato water and either start with a package of dry yeast, or simply wait for it to ferment from the captured wild yeast. San Francisco sourdough tastes the way it does because the wild yeast in that area are different from the wild yeast in New Jersey, so your starter will have its own flavor. Here's the instructions from Bette Hagman:

"In a 1- or 1-1/2 quart glass or pottery crock, dissolve the yeast (1 packet or 2-1/4t) in the water (1c lukewarm water or potato water). Add the sugar (pinch) and rice flour (1 and 1/2c white rice flour). Let the jar sit out until fermented (1 to 3 days), stirring every few hours. This will bubble up and ferment and then die down with a skim of liquid on the top. Be sure to stir well before using. The consistency should be about that of pancake batter."

Refeed it with water and rice flour whenever you take some, or occasionally throw some away and feed the rest if you haven't used it in a while. Gotta feed the yeast or it will die.

[Nancym 4]

I just started my sour dough using kefir and coconut flour with a bit of corn starch for the bacteria to eat. I'll let you know how it comes out, I think it has to sit awhile.