1. Hello! Never posted here before, but I've been an avid reader of TFL (and Twitter follower) for a few weeks now, and the community's insights have been an invaluable help in getting started in sourdough baking. So thank you all.
2. I wanted to post about my starter, which I started using Debra Wink's pineapple solution (so well written and interesting to read...not to mention that it worked like a charm).
HOWEVER...After a few weeks of room temp maintenance, it developed a horrifying rotten egg smell, which I've seen discussed elsewhere on TFL. (e.g.: http://weightloss-slim.fit/node/14935/problems-transitioning-ryewhole-wheat-white-flour%3C/a%3E ). I did notice that the smell was really in the gas, and not the starter itself. Also, the yeast activity seemed to drop off during the ordeal--that is, it was rather sluggish to double.
Once you get your starter going, if you are not using it every day, you should keep it in your refrigerator. That will prevent it from going down the same path you experiences before.
Thanks. Very much looking forward to refrigerating it and feeding it once a week instead day twice a day. Since it's fairly new, I was giving it a few weeks at room temp to settle in. Now that things are going smoothly, I'll probably commit it to the fridge soon.
Thank you for the kind words, 1676
Sorry you had trouble, but glad you got it back on track.
Welcome to TFL, -dw
Hey Debra, I've gotten quite a crash course in sourdough just reading back in various sourdough discussions here, and I've particularly appreciated some of your posts--so doubly thanks, and it's a thrill to hear from you!
Bob