Stir and Feed
EasyReincorporate and nourish the starter.
- Stir the hooch back in or pour it off
- Discard all but 50g of starter
- Feed with 50g flour and 50g water
- Feed again in 12 hours
Starter Separating
StarterA starter that separates into layers with liquid (hooch) on top has been hungry too long. This is normal and easily fixed with consistent feeding.
Try This Right Now
- 1Pour off or stir in the liquid (hooch)
- 2Discard most of the starter and feed with fresh flour and water
- 3Feed again in 12 hours if still sluggish
Detailed Solutions
Aggressive Feeding
EasyRebuild starter strength quickly.
- Keep only 25g starter
- Feed with 100g flour and 100g water
- The larger ratio dilutes accumulated acids
- Should be active within 24-48 hours
Why This Happens
Separation occurs when starter runs out of food and the alcohol produced by fermentation rises to the top. Contributing factors include: Starter not fed frequently enough, Too much time between feedings, Warm environment accelerating consumption, Too much starter kept relative to feed, Neglected in refrigerator too long.
Prevention for Next Time
- Feed starter before it fully collapses and separates
- Refrigerate if not baking frequently—feed once weekly
- In warm weather, feed twice daily or refrigerate
- Use a larger ratio of flour to starter for less frequent feeding
Related Issues
Having other problems? Check out these related troubleshooting guides.