Prep Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 c. flour (white or whole wheat)
- 1 1/2 c. unclorinated water (let water sit for 24 hours or use bottled)
Preparation:
Mix flour and water in a 2 quart bowl, stirring well to incorporate air. Cover with a layer of cheesecloth to keep the bugs out and place in a spot of your choosing, either inside or outside. Stir twice a day. When bubbles form in 2 or 3 days, start feeding your new culture.
Add 1 cup flour and 1/2 cup dechlorinated water and stir. Add a little more water, if necessary, to have the same consistency you started with.
Repeat feeding twice a day for several successive days. You may want to divide or throw away part of the culture. Keep at least 2 cups and feed with 1 cup flour and 1/2 cup water.
The starter is active when 1 to 2 inches of foam develop on the top within 12 hours of feeding. You may then refrigerate it.
If the starter begins to have any off-odors or mold growing on top, you will have to throw it out.
Feeding a culture
If you use part of the culture, feed it by adding 1 cup flour and 3/4 cup water to the left-over culture. Let it sit 1 hour at room temperature, then refrigerate.
If you do not use the culture, you should still feed it. If the culture is unrefrigerated, you must feed it once a day.
If the culture is refrigerated, feed it once a week. If you neglect it for several weeks, the culture might die.
