Vent: My sourdough starter went flat right before a big order

I was in my home kitchen in Austin last Friday, prepping for a 20-loaf catering job, when I realized my starter had barely bubbled overnight. I ended up mixing in a bit of whole wheat flour and a teaspoon of honey, then gave it a warm water bath, which got it going just in time. Has anyone else had to jump-start a sluggish starter with a deadline looming?

2 comments

2 Comments

sams251mo ago

Wow, that's cutting it close. How warm was the water bath, and how long did you leave it in there? I've tried the warm spot on top of the fridge before, but never a full bath.

angelab621mo ago

Oh man, that warm water bath trick is a lifesaver. I had a starter go totally dead on me the morning I was supposed to bake for a farmers market. I stuck the jar in a bowl of water I'd heated in my kettle, just warm to the touch, and swirled it every 15 minutes. Took about an hour before I saw those first few bubbles. The panic is so real. What kind of honey did you use?