How is the Sourdough Home different from the Folding Proofer?
The Sourdough Home can both heat and cool. The Folding Proofer cannot cool meaning it cannot bring its contents below room temperature. For example, even though the temperature range of the proofer is 21 - 49°C (70 - 120°F) if the room temperature is 25°C (77°F) the Proofer will not be able to bring its contents to 21°C (70°F). The proofer is larger than the SD Home and can accommodate a large mixing bowl, bread pans, or other containers used when proofing bread dough. The Sourdough Home is smaller and designed specifically with sourdough starter in mind and can accommodate up to a 1 liter/1 quart jar.
Why should I keep my starter in the SD Home?
The health and growth rate of a sourdough starter are heavily influenced by feeding schedule (frequency) and temperature. To maintain a healthy starter ready for baking, many bakers store their starter at room temperature and refresh on a daily basis. Room temperature can fluctuate throughout the year and fermentation activity can become unpredictable and difficult to manage. Bakers often need to adjust feeding ratios and frequency to accommodate for these temperature swings. With the Sourdough Home, you can keep your starter at a consistent temperature year-round. No need to adjust ratios or feeding schedule.
What about just storing my starter in the refrigerator?
Weekend bakers may not want to feed their starter everyday- it is unnecessary and wastes a lot of flour. Often, bakers store their starter in the refrigerator as an alternative to feeding daily. However, refrigerator temperatures hover around 38°F (3°C) which is too cold for the yeast and bacteria in starter. When it is time to bake, one must give the refrigerated starter a few refreshments to get it up to full strength ready for baking. Using the Sourdough Home to store your starter is the perfect solution. By keeping your starter cool, but not cold you can slow down fermentation, while not bringing it to a complete halt. Your starter will be healthy and ready to use without additional feedings.
I don’t want to feed my starter every day. What is the recommended feeding schedule?
With the SD Home, you can create a starter feeding schedule that works for you. Feed your starter once a day, every three days, or even once a week. Precise control over a wide range of temperatures allows you to manage the fermentation rate of your starter like never before and provides the ability to control when your starter peaks. Time to peak at various temperatures will depend on seed ratio, hydration level, and type of flour used. Experiment with your own starter to get desired results.
Use our guideline below to get started.
*Above guidelines are based off of a 100% hydration starter fed with all-purpose flour.
Why won’t my Sourdough Home go above 99°F?
Because the display only has 2 digits, the highest temperature setting in Fahrenheit is 99°F. The Sourdough Home can go higher but will need to switch to Celsius in order to read the setting. To switch from F to C press both + and - at the same time and hold for 2 seconds.
How long will it take for my starter to reach the set temperature?
The amount of time it will take depends on two factors- the amount of starter and the discrepancy in temperature between your starter and the set temperature of the Sourdough Home. To shorten the time it takes for your starter to reach the desired temperature, mix it with water close to the set temperature of the Sourdough Home. If set to a warm temperature, mix your starter with warm water, and if set to a cold temperature, mix your starter with cold water.
How do I check the temperature of my starter?
In order to test the temperature of the Sourdough Home, we recommend using a probe thermometer inserted directly into your starter after it has been in the unit for several hours. We do not recommend setting an indoor thermometer inside the Sourdough Home.
Where should I store my Sourdough Home?
A kitchen counter works well. Just be sure to avoid locations with extreme temperature variations, such as directly next to an oven, and to store it out of direct sunlight. The rear air vents should also be given a few inches of clearance for adequate airflow.
Select Country
