Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Excellent product and the perfect sourdough flavor! Within a few days of activating this starter I was using it to bake up basic sour dough bread, pizza dough, breakfast calzones, and even sourdough banana bread. It gives the breads a delicious and delightful moist flavor. I am using it in some no-knead recipes from "Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day" also with success, even though those recipes have added yeast. But no added yeast in anything else, for this starter has developed into a starter that has a hefty lift. For the first couple of weeks I fed it at least twice a day to build it. It mildly bubbled and foamed the first several days, then suddenly I woke up that morning to find an overflowing starter all over my kitchen counter (see picture). I realized then it was ready to "roll". I also made a homemade starter using rye flour initially at the same time so I could compare the two. This SF one from Cultures for Health is superior in flavor and strength. It was definitely worth the money! Already I have dried some out and frozen it to make sure I don't accidentally lose this starter. It lives in the refrigerator now in its liter sized Fido jar. If I leave it out on the counter for more than an hour I make sure there is a bowl under the jar as it will suddenly over flow if it has been fed that day. I need to name it because it is almost like a pet. At least two to three times a week I take it out of the refrigerator and feed it. I shudder at the thought that it might ever form hooch if ignored too long. Definitely frequent feedings keep it strong, healthy and vital. Also, I am very particular about only using filtered water and making sure my utensils and jars are kept clean. A couple of coffee filters over the jar top work well to help protect it. Mostly I feed it with King Arthur's Bread Flour, but periodically I will use some whole wheat and that keeps it versatile. It is rare that any starter goes down the drain here. I use it to keep a tub of pizza/calzone dough going in the refrigerator so it is always available and ready. I highly recommend this starter! The flavor is certainly reminiscent of the Bay Area breads and much better than my homegrown starter.