RIP, sourdough starters :-(

[Anonymous]

DH just accidentally broiled my nascent (day 20!) sourdough starters…10 yo DD and I had two little ones going, testing filtered tap vs bottled water, and were finally getting more consistent action after several days of hosting them in a barely warmed oven (our house is around 67/68, hence super long incubation time—we also had an oven thermometer set, but I turned off the alarm because I was alone in the house and wasn’t an issue). And yes, I had conversations with him about checking the oven…but on the plus side, he is making dinner. But also they were so close!!!

Thank you for helping me learn sourdough starter 101, little yeastie beasties…I hope to earn a passing grade soon! At least we hadn’t named the darn things yet.

[Anonymous]

We make sourdough starter, yoghurt, kefir water and kombucha. I am taking a cheese making class this spring.

[Anonymous]

Aww, sorry OP. Even when it's a total accident, that's disappointing. It's hard to build a new habit like checking the oven every time of you've lived your whole life without ever having to do it.

If you decide to try again, could you put a big sign on the oven door (or, even better, over the ON) button whenever you have starter in the oven? You'd have to be diligent about doing it every time, and removing it when the oven is empty so he doesn't learn to ignore it, but that's what works in my household (mostly for the teenagers instead of DH, but it's the same problem).

[Anonymous]

When you do grow a new starter, “NO bread for him!”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aww, sorry OP. Even when it's a total accident, that's disappointing. It's hard to build a new habit like checking the oven every time of you've lived your whole life without ever having to do it.

If you decide to try again, could you put a big sign on the oven door (or, even better, over the ON) button whenever you have starter in the oven? You'd have to be diligent about doing it every time, and removing it when the oven is empty so he doesn't learn to ignore it, but that's what works in my household (mostly for the teenagers instead of DH, but it's the same problem).

Yes. I once had to store several homemade pies in the oven for a day because we were fighting an ant problem and I basically taped off the whole thing like a police investigation scene because I did not trust myself to not turn it on.

[Anonymous]

Put a giant note on the oven door next time. DH once did the same to a bowl of yogurt I was setting in the oven.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH just accidentally broiled my nascent (day 20!) sourdough starters…10 yo DD and I had two little ones going, testing filtered tap vs bottled water, and were finally getting more consistent action after several days of hosting them in a barely warmed oven (our house is around 67/68, hence super long incubation time—we also had an oven thermometer set, but I turned off the alarm because I was alone in the house and wasn’t an issue). And yes, I had conversations with him about checking the oven…but on the plus side, he is making dinner. But also they were so close!!!

Thank you for helping me learn sourdough starter 101, little yeastie beasties…I hope to earn a passing grade soon! At least we hadn’t named the darn things yet.

I did that myself to a huge batch of yogurt I was cultivating in the oven one time.

[Anonymous]

I’m so very sorry, OP. Think about how much better the next batch will be.

And consider whether you need this or a DIY version: https://brodandtaylor.com/products/sourdough-home

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aww, sorry OP. Even when it's a total accident, that's disappointing. It's hard to build a new habit like checking the oven every time of you've lived your whole life without ever having to do it.

If you decide to try again, could you put a big sign on the oven door (or, even better, over the ON) button whenever you have starter in the oven? You'd have to be diligent about doing it every time, and removing it when the oven is empty so he doesn't learn to ignore it, but that's what works in my household (mostly for the teenagers instead of DH, but it's the same problem).

Yes. I once had to store several homemade pies in the oven for a day because we were fighting an ant problem and I basically taped off the whole thing like a police investigation scene because I did not trust myself to not turn it on.

Lol—this is the way! I did eventually get an incubator to avoid this problem.

[Anonymous]

^^ Yellow caution tape is the answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ Yellow caution tape is the answer.

Put a sock on the oven handle. Your husband will know what it means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Put a giant note on the oven door next time. DH once did the same to a bowl of yogurt I was setting in the oven.

Unrelated, the Instant pot was a game changer for making yogurt and flan.