TIL my sourdough starter loves the humidity in my basement laundry room

I moved my starter jar down there last week because my kitchen counter was too cold, and it doubled in size in just 4 hours, way faster than usual. I guess the steady 70% humidity from the dryer is perfect for it. Has anyone else found a weird spot in their house that gives their ferment a boost?

3 comments

3 Comments

milesrobinson1mo agoMost Upvoted

My basement is way too damp for anything like that. I tried storing potatoes down there once and they sprouted in two days. That kind of humidity just invites mold and trouble.

the_sarah1mo ago

Sounds like your laundry room is basically a five star spa for sourdough, complete with a steam room. My starter would probably just get lazy and expect to be fed grapes down there. Miles has a point though, my basement would just turn it into a science experiment gone wrong, like a fuzzy petri dish.

reeselewis15h ago

My cousin tried keeping a starter in his garage last winter and it turned into this weird orange mess after a week. He said it smelled like old gym socks and regret, not exactly the artisan bakery vibe he was going for. Temperature swings are brutal, I'll stick with my kitchen counter where I can keep an eye on things.