My sourdough starter turned into a science experiment gone wrong

I was trying a new feeding schedule I read about online, leaving it at room temp for 48 hours instead of my usual 12. By day two, it smelled like old gym socks and had a weird pink film on top. I had to throw the whole jar out, which was about two cups of starter I'd had for over a year. Has anyone else had a starter go bad that fast from changing the routine?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_uma2mo ago

Aw man, that pink film is actually a bad sign lol.

abbyc332mo ago

Yeah, that pink stuff is a killer. It's a sure sign of bad bacteria taking over. Changing the feeding time that much basically starves the good yeast. The whole thing gets weak and then anything can grow in there. It's a real bummer to lose a year old starter like that. I'd be so mad at myself.

terry_bailey351mo ago

A whole YEAR of keeping that starter alive and then BAM, pink mold shows up? I would be Absolutely livid. That is such a long time to nurture something just to lose it over ONE feeding schedule mistake. You put in all that work for twelve months straight, every single day, and then it's gone just like that? I would be kicking myself for weeks over that. Honestly I think I'd have to take a break from baking for a while after that kind of heartbreak.