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sourdough starter

SOURDOUGH STARTER

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Sourdough Starter or Natural Yeast is one of the most popular ingredients today, mainly when used to make homemade bread, pizza, or other pastries.

As opposed to fresh yeast, Sourdough is a biologically complex system in which they coexist:

  • Lactic Bacteria: so-called because they produce lactic acid, acetic acid, and carbon dioxide due to the fermentation of sugars.
  • Yeasts (Saccharomyces Exiguus, Cerevisiae, and many others): They feed on sugars (such as glucose and fructose) and transform them into ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide (CO2). Moreover, they can produce other substances necessary for the baked product’s color and aromatic note.

VARIOUS WAYS TO PRESERVE SOURDOUGH

TIED UP SOURDOUGH

This is undoubtedly the most widespread method, originating in Milan (Italy) and still very common in the bakery sector.

 Its preservation is done through regular cycles that consist of the Sourdough’s soaking and the subsequent feeding with water and flour. After the refreshment, the yeast is wrapped in a heavy cloth and tied with a string or a rope to contain gas development until the next refreshment (typically after 16 hours).

According to my experience, this method is more challenging to manage at home than the one in water, which I will explain briefly. This is because it requires a good experience in knowing how to read the “signals” to maintain a correct acidity.

SOURDOUGH STORED IN WATER

Preserving Sourdough in water is a method that originated in the Piedmont area (north of Italy). It is the method I would recommend to you!

According to this method, storage between refreshments is done by soaking the Sourdough in water.

I recommend following this method because:

  • It is Easy to Manage;
  • The aqueous environment ensures a Control of the Acidity;
  • The result is a less acidic sourdough, more suitable for producing pastries.

Even if, up to now, you have managed your sourdough starter with a different method, you can easily switch to keeping it in water without any problem. Allow about 1 week to adapt to the new “environment” before using the Sourdough for your recipes.

your QUESTIONS ABOUT SOURDOUGH STARTER

I was given the Sourdough Starter as a gift. How do I store it?

You can choose to store the Sourdough wrapped in a cloth and tied up or soaked in water. Both methods are widespread, but I believe the second one is easier to manage, even for those with little experience. How to Store the Sourdough Starter

How many days should I refresh the Sourdough?

If you store your Sourdough at room temperature, then you have to refresh it every day. If you decide to keep it in the fridge, you can feed it every 5/7 daysHow to Store Sourdough Starter

How do I store Sourdough in the water?

First, you have to feed it (as usual) and soak it in a bowl of cold tap water (19°C -66°F). Then you can store it at room temperature for 24 hours or store it in the refrigerator at +4°C (39°F) for 5/7 days. How to Store Sourdough Starter

I have a Liquid Sourdough stored in a pot. Can I store it in the water?

Yes, just feed it by progressively decreasing the amount of water. The liquid Sourdough is usually fed with an equal weight of water and flour (100% hydration). Starting from this ratio, decrease the percentage of water each day by 10% until you reach 30% (1kg of yeast +1kg of flour +300gr of water).

I'm storing Sourdough tied up. Can I keep it in the water?

Yes, soak it in the water at 38°C (100°F) for about 20 minutes and then feed it with an equal weight of flour and 30% water over the flour’s weight (1kg yeast +1kg flour +300g water). Once ready, you can soak it in cold tap water and keep it for 24 hours at room temperature. The next day, you will start with the usual refreshments. How to Store Sourdough Starter

Is it better to store Sourdough tied up or in the water?

Storing Sourdough in the water is easier. It allows you to better control the Sourdough’s acidity (because it is dissolved in the water).

How much water should I soak the Sourdough in?

The ideal proportion is for the water to be about 3 times the amount of Sourdough: 1kg of yeast should be soaked in 3 liters of water.

How can I measure the pH of the Sourdough?

Measuring pH at home is not very meaningful. This is because the data we would read in the pH-meter will be the sum of the 2 acidities: Lactic (produced by lactic acid bacteria) and Acetic (created mostly by yeast).

The critical factor is the proportion between the 2 acidities. We could have a sourdough with a correct global acidity (e.g., ph 4) but with an excessive lactic or acetic acidity.

Can I knead the Sourdough Starter without a Stand Mixer?

Absolutely, you will just need a little more enhanced strength to work the dough!

What is the difference with Liquid Sourdough Starter stored in a pot?

The Liquid Sourdough Starter is much easier to manage and feed than traditional Sourdough. However, it has a much lower “leavening power.”

For this reason, it is suitable to be used in “lean” doughs such as bread, pizza, or some pastries with little fat, such as croissants.

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33 comments about “Che cos’è il Lievito Madre”

    1. Buongiorno, ho acquistato del lievito madre in polvere e l’ho conservato in frigo in un barattolo di vetro, seguendo le indicazioni. Vorrei sapere per quanto tempo sarà ancora utilizzabile? Purtroppo la data di scadenza non è più leggibile. La ringrazio se potrà rispondermi quanto prima

  1. Buon giorno oggi 24/4 dopo diversi rinnovi ho notato che i gr 150 di pasta rinnovata secondo le tue indicazioni dopo 24 ore ha triplicato il suo volume…ora che devo fare?

    1. Ciao Giuseppe,
      devi continuare a rinfrescare il lievito, finché non triplicherà il suo volume in 6/8ore.
      Una volta pronto, potrai conservarlo in acqua (che è il metodo che ti consiglio di seguire) a temperatura ambiente, rinfrescandolo ogni 24ore, oppure in frigorifero, allungando la sua conservazione a 5/7giorni!
      Ecco come conservare il Lievito Madre

      A presto!

  2. Ciao, grazie per tutte le informazioni. Vorrei porre due domande: prima di avere le informazioni secondo le quali Rolando diceva che a seconda del momento in cui l’impasto saliva in superficie nel bagno, si poteva conoscere la salute del lievito madre. Ma ora ci sono persone che mi hanno detto che non è necessario guardare l’ora. Che ne pensi? Come sapere allora qual è la salute del lievito madre?

    1. Ciao Benjamin,
      in realtà questo metodo può dare una prima informazione sulla “salute” del lievito. Ovviamente il tempo con cui il lievito sale a galla durante il bagnetto è influenzato da moltissimi fattori, tra cui la temperatura dell’acqua, la grandezza dei pezzi di lievito e quanto sono stati strizzati, o ancora il rapporto tra l’acqua ed il lievito stesso.

      A livello artigianale l’aspetto corretto, così come il sapore ed il profumo rimangono i metodi migliori per testare il proprio lievito.

      Spero di aver risposto alla tua domanda!
      A presto

    2. Inanzi tutto complimenti per l articolo molto bello ed esaustivo. Volevo chiedere se da un lievito gestito legato si può passare a una gestione in acqua .grazie

    3. Ciao Francesco,
      certo nessun problema; a seconda del lievito, ci vorranno alcuni giorni di adattamento; tienilo solo in considerazione per calcolare i tempi!
      A presto!

    1. gimetti phelipe

      La conservazione in acqua è tipica dei piemontesi perchè così fatto per portare a Torino il lievito madre rubato a Napoli dalle truppe del mercenario Garibaldi

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