OK, I finished with the starters. I itemized them well and said how long it
took for the lids to pop or not to pop.
You can see them at
http://www.user.shentel.net/jar02/breadbydee.htm

Thanks for any comments.
Dee




"Dee Randall" > wrote in message
...
> I am a glutton for punishment because I started 4 more starters since I
> can't do anything until Tuesday, when I get my new yeast Monday -- we live
> in the sticks.
>
> 1) all purpose with sugar
> 2) all purpose without sugar
> 3) bread flour with sugar
> 4) bread flour without sugar
>
> I'll tell you when I put thepictures of them on-line.
> Thanks,
> Dee
>
>
> "Dee Randall" > wrote in message
> ...
> > It's now 9 am and the starter has set 16 hours and hasn't raised or
> lowered
> > any since last night. There may be a few more holes this morning. It
> will
> > not flow out to the side easily. But it has that wine smell that I
don't
> > like. Sometimes I get this smell when cooking bread; it smell horrid to
> me.
> > But I threw it out this test. . I will make another test today using a
> > pinch of sugar with this current yeast. Then I will l buy a new batch
of
> > yeast Monday and make another test Monday. The yeast I'm using is
active
> > dry -- I think it's Fleischman's from Costco. I open a large bag and
put
> it
> > in Ball jars in the refrigerator. Perhaps it's been in there too long.
> But
> > buying a new bag is the thing to do at this time.
> >
> > Thanks for looking at my yeast.
> > I have more questions, but will ask when I'm up and around a little
more.
> > Dee
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > "barry" > wrote in message
> > et...
> > > Dee,
> > >
> > > The ciabatta and pizza look perfect to me.
> > >
> > > No, I did not use any sugar in my starters. Your starter doesn't look
> too
> > > bad from what I can tell. Mine, at roughly 65% hydration, will flow
> > slowly
> > > if I tilt the container on its side. They both give off a good,
clean,
> > > yeasty smell. I'd say you probably have weak yeast, but that's a
guess.
> > > You might try adding a pinch of sugar to the starter and stirring it
up
> a
> > > bit. This might kick start the yeast.
> > >
> > > I'm not sure whether being old yeast affects the number of cells in
the
> > > process or the strength of each cells or both. Somewhere I read that
> > yeast
> > > colonies double every two hours. So, if that's the case, one would
> expect
> > > weak yeast to "catch up" in some period of time, say two hours. In
> other
> > > words,you would need a head start of two hours to get the volume and
> > > activity with the old yeast that you would get with the fresh yeast.
I
> > > don't know if this is correct, or if it's even generalizable.
> > >
> > > Barry
> > >
> > >
> > > "Dee Randall" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > OK Barry, my test did not have sugar in it, and as you say yours
did
> > not
> > > > have sugar in it -- correct?
> > > >
> > > > Well, mine is sitting here at 21:46 and it has since 16:50 (5
hours),
> > room
> > > > temperature now about 70.5 degrees, just about doubled in size and
> has
> > > very
> > > > few holes in it. Now, my container lid is quite strong and when I
> > popped
> > > > (pryed) it off, it let out a lot of air. But I would say, that the
> > yeast
> > > > is probably not as good as it should be.
> > > > I've put a picture of the starter as it is now at 10:00 pm on a web
> page
> > > so
> > > > you can see it.
> > > > http://www.user.shentel.net/jar02/breadbydee.htm
> > > >
> > > > Give me your "sage" advice.
> > > > Dee
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "barry" > wrote in message
> > > > et...
> > > > >
> > > > > "Dee Randall" > wrote in message
> > > > > ...
> > > > > > Barry, I just re-read your yeast testing information.
> > > > > > At 4:50 to 6:20 - when I opened up the container, it only puffed
> at
> > > me.
> > > > > > But I'm re-reading your paragraph "Check your yeast. where
above
> > your
> > > > > test
> > > > > > ingredients , you say to put a teaspoon of sugar -- But I tested
> it
> > > > > without
> > > > > > the sugar as you mentioned in your next sentence. I will
re-test
> > > > tomorrow
> > > > > > with the sugar. I want my lid to be blown off.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Will let you know.
> > > > > > Dee
> > > > > I made the two batches at about 4PM. They pop the lid about every
> > > twenty
> > > > to
> > > > > thirty minutes.
> > > > >
> > > > > Each has 5 ounces flour (one has AP, the other bread flour), 3 1/4
> > > ounces
> > > > > water (cool) and 1 teaspoon dry yeast.
> > > > >
> > > > > If your starter doesn't really pop the top off a sealed plastic
> > > container,
> > > > > then something might be wrong with the yeast.
> > > > >
> > > > > Barry
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>