Shoutout to the old baker at the state fair who showed me his sourdough starter

I was at the Ohio State Fair about eight years ago, just watching the bread judging. This older guy next to me, who'd won a ribbon, let me see his starter that he'd kept going since 1972. It was so simple, just flour and water in a mason jar, but it made me stop buying those little yeast packets from the store. Anyone else keep a starter that's older than they are?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_logan1mo ago

Yeah, that's the real deal. Store yeast is fine but an old starter just hits different.

evan_campbell1mo ago

Wow, that's a cool story. Just a small thing, but those little yeast packets from the store are actually for baker's yeast, which is different from a sourdough starter. They're both for making bread rise, but they're not really the same thing. You use the packets for a quicker, more reliable loaf. The starter is for that long, slow sourdough ferment. It's great you got inspired to make your own, though. That old starter must have had amazing flavor.

the_ruby1mo ago

Honestly, store yeast is just easier and more consistent. That starter sounds like a pain to keep alive.