Warning: That farmer's market sourdough starter nearly ruined my whole routine

I picked up a starter from a booth at the Portland farmer's market last weekend because the guy selling it was SO enthusiastic about his "heirloom blend." Got it home, fed it exactly like he said, and by Tuesday morning the thing was bubbling over my counter like a science experiment gone wrong. I woke up at 5 AM to a sticky mess all over my kitchen island and a sour smell that took two days to air out. Turns out his instructions were for a cold kitchen in winter, not my warm apartment in July. I had to scrape dried starter off my recipe books and my phone case. Now I keep any new starter in the garage for the first few days until I know how it acts. Has anyone else gotten a starter that went totally rogue on them?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_wren15d ago

Honestly, isn't your kitchen island just a counter and can't you just wipe things down?

rosebarnes15d agoMost Upvoted

Read a food safety blog that said porous stone islands are actually germ magnets.