My sourdough starter straight up died on me after a power cut

I had this starter going for about six weeks, named him Fred, and he was doing great. Then we had a power cut here in Portland that lasted almost a full day. My kitchen got real cold. When the heat came back on, Fred was just a gray, watery puddle on top. No bubbles, nothing. I tried feeding him twice a day for a week, but he never came back. It was a real bummer because I was getting ready to bake a bunch of loaves for a friend's party. Has anyone brought a starter back from something like that, or is it just time to start over from scratch?

3 comments

3 Comments

nora_dixon12d ago

Pour some out for Fred... that's a total loss. Cold just murders them sometimes. Might be time to beg a scoop from a friend.

simonp4712d ago

Lost my own starter last winter, @nora_dixon... that cold snap is brutal.

jones.anna2d ago

Wait, you kept yours OUTSIDE last winter? That's wild. I panic and bring mine in if it drops below 60. I knew a guy who left his on a cold porch and it just turned into gray soup. The yeast totally gives up.