05/17/2026
Feed it at peak. Here’s why it matters.
Your starter is a living ecosystem — wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria suspended in flour and water, doing the slow, quiet work of fermentation every single day.
When you feed it fresh flour, the microbes wake up. They eat the sugars, release gas, and your starter rises. That highest point of the rise?
That’s peak. And it’s the sweet spot you’re always chasing.
At peak your starter is at its strongest. After peak, the food starts running low. The structure loosens. The bubbles weaken. That’s not a dead starter — that’s a hungry one.
So feed it at peak. Not after the crash.
One more thing — peak doesn’t happen on a schedule. Temperature, feeding ratio, and your starter’s strength all shift the timing. Trust your jar, not your timer.
A strong starter isn’t about perfection. It’s about paying attention. 🫙
Save this for your next bake day.