My sourdough starter went flat right before a big order

I was in my home kitchen in Portland, prepping 20 loaves for a local cafe. The starter had been active all week, but when I went to mix the levain at 6 AM, it was just a wet, sad puddle. I had to switch gears fast and use a bit of commercial yeast to save the dough, which felt like cheating. Has anyone else had a starter just give up on them like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

claire_hayes352mo ago

Honestly that sounds like a total nightmare right before a big bake. Tbh I've had my starter act weird with big temperature swings. What was the kitchen temp like overnight, and did you change its feeding schedule at all before this?

hugo2362mo ago

Nah, starters are tough, they can handle a little change. Mine goes nuts sometimes and the bread still turns out fine.

emma7681mo ago

Oh gosh, Claire, you're hitting right where it hurts haha. My kitchen was a solid 65 degrees that night because I forgot to turn the heat on before bed. Totally my fault. And no, I didn't change the feeding schedule, but I did use some colder water from the fridge by mistake when I fed it. That was probably the real kicker. I swear my starter is more dramatic than I am sometimes. It's like it knows when I have a big plan and decides to throw a tantrum.