🥖 **Can You Overfeed Your Sourdough Starter? Let's Break It Down!** 🌾#sourdoughstarter #sourdough

🥖 *Can You Overfeed Your Sourdough Starter? Let's Break It Down!* 🌾 Ever questioned if you’re overfeeding your sourdough starter? While your starter is made up of resilient wild yeast and bacteria, too much feeding can actually throw things off balance. Overfeeding dilutes the yeast and bacteria population, resulting in a weak and inactive culture that won’t give you the rise you're after! 📏 *How often should you feed your starter?* The general rule is 1-2 times a day when it’s kept at room temperature. Even if your starter doubles quickly, resist the urge to feed it again right away. Feeding more than twice a day can lead to overfeeding, which can weaken your starter. 🔍 *Signs you’re overfeeding:* Lack of bubbles or rise Weak or no yeasty smell Runny texture Gummy, flat bread with no rise Not using a kitchen scale to measure your flour and water 🛠 *How to fix an overfed starter:* The great news? It’s easy to fix! Just cut back on feeding. Overfeeding disrupts the acidity balance in your starter, which is key for healthy growth. By feeding less, you allow the yeast and bacteria to thrive, giving your starter strength and restoring that perfect acidity. 🧑‍🔬 *What’s happening inside your starter?* A sourdough starter contains both lactic acid bacteria and acetic acid. Lactic acid creates the tangy flavor, while acetic acid gives a sharp, vinegary note. Meanwhile, the yeast is busy consuming starches in the flour, producing CO2 that makes your dough rise. If you’re in a warm climate or keeping your starter in a warm spot, don’t worry! Even if the temperature rises above 30°C, feeding twice a day is still enough. You may notice your starter peaking faster or becoming a bit runnier, but that’s totally normal.