- Never use metal bowls or utensils.
- When feeding add at least twice as much flour and bottled water as starter.
- Never store in air-tight containers and clean the storage container before refilling.
- Use high quality bread flour, never bleached.
- To ensure there is no chlorine, use bottled water.
To Activate Sourdough Starter Flakes
Soak the coated portion of the wooden spoon in 1/2 cup of lukewarm (bottled) water. The dried sourdough starter will turn the water cloudy have 30 minutes or more. Once the starter has dissolved from the spoon add pour the water/starter into a small glass or plastic (never use metal) bowl and blend in 3/4 cup bread flour. The mixture should have the consistence of thick pancake batter, if necessary add more water. Lightly cover the bowl and set in a draft free area. Stir occasionally, and within 8 to 12 hours, you should start to see tiny bubbles as the wild yeast is activated. It's now time for it's second feeding.
Feeding number two must have twice as much flour and water than starter. Since most recipes do not call for more than 1 cup starter, I usually remove 1/2 cup of starter and pour out the rest. To the reserved starter vigorously stir in 1 cup lukewarm bottled water and 1 cup bread flour. Be sure to use a bowl that is large enough to allow for expansion. Cover and let the starter ferment for another 12 hours . . . it should now be full of bubbles and your wild yeast is ready for use.
Remove the amount of starter needed for your recipe, always saving ¼ cup for future use. Store saved starter in a glass or plastic container in the refrigerator. Because of the carbon dioxide is produced by the starter, do not store in an airtight container. I usually store mine in a glass jar, with plastic wrap over the top, and a screw on lid with a small hole poked in the top.
If you have more than ¼ cup of starter left over you might want to consider drying a couple tablespoons on plastic wrap and freezing as back up. Just thinly spread the starter on the plastic wrap and allow to dry then crush into flakes
