My sourdough starter went dormant for 3 weeks then came back to life

I left my starter in the fridge while I was on a trip to Portland for 10 days. When I got back it had a thick gray liquid on top and smelled like nail polish remover. I almost threw it out but my friend said to just stir it and feed it twice a day. After 3 weeks of feeding it finally doubled in size again and the smell went back to that tangy yogurt smell. The first loaf I baked with it was actually the best one I've made in months. Has anyone else had a starter that looked dead but came back?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_sean14d ago

Is a dead starter really that dramatic, though?

singh.jessica14d ago

$400 for a starter rebuild at a chain shop, and you're asking if it's dramatic? @the_sean, have you ever been stranded in a grocery store parking lot at 9pm with a toddler and a trunk full of ice cream? Because I have, and let me tell you, that $400 started looking cheap real fast. It's not just the part cost, it's the tow truck, the missed work, the cold groceries you have to toss. A dead starter can wreck your whole week if the timing's bad. You must've had good luck with starters to not see the drama in that.