The Healthy Sourdough Starter Series, Episode 2: Hooch

Do you have black liquid on your sourdough starter? Or maybe you have gray liquid or brown liquid? If the answer is yes then you are dealing with hooch. Hooch is the alcohol byproduct of sourdough fermentation. Learn how to identify hooch, why it happens, what to do about it, and how to keep your starter balanced so hooch won't come back as easily.

[thomasgronek]

Thank you. It is my understanding that Aceto Bactra (sp?) convert ethanol into acetic acid, which imparts the sour flavor to the dough.

[webbystarr]

What if my starter is having a layer of liquid (on top and sometimes even in the middle) at the beginning of the process? Like on day 2, 3 &4??? I’ve been feeding it every 24 hours and it’s sitting covered with cheese cloth out on the counter.

[ThankfulNanaDiane]

Thanks for the tips. I’ve been getting hooch after just a few days in the fridge. I have the same type of jar as in your video. It came with a seal. Should I use the seal or not? Thanks!

[susanscully]

Why does hooch get too gooey to stir in, even if it barely forms after a couple of days on the counter?

[vdub]

Day 2 on my starter ...good amount of hooch on top ...I need to discard n feed should I first remove hooch or should I stir everything then do my discard?

[chanjoiedevivre]

Curious did you ever share a video on actually making the starter?

[Cosychannela]

My starter often being like that i think it is hungry . Now i will feed every 6 hours it can work?

[blablablahh]

Hello, i have query related ro sourdough starter, I prepared my starter with 20g white bread flour and 20 g water from D2 till D5 it produced a transparent liquid on top

But from d5 onwards it is not producing that liquid

Nor has my starter doubled

I have been discarding 20 g feeding it every 24 hours with 10 g white bread flour and 10g water
Keeping it at a room temperature of 29 to 30 C
Used fridge cold water and flour to keep the temp down
Initially it smeeled really funky but not like acetone and now that smell has mellowed down but it hasn't doubled
22 Aug 2024 will be the D8 of feeding it
Can you please let me know what am I Doing wrong ?