Have you been staring at your sourdough starter jar wondering, "should I be cleaning this thing?" The simple answer is NO, you don't need to clean your sourdough jar. It's not necessary to clean your jar all that regularly, unless it's super crusty or you can't get your starter out or fresh flour and water in.
Whether you are using a glass mason jar, plastic containers, or something else for your starter, chances are you can get away with not cleaning it for awhile - especially if you have a mature starter.
On the other hand...there will be times that your sourdough starter jar will need a good cleaning, but it will actually be happier if you leave it in the same jar.
Your sourdough starter jar is happier if you leave it in the same jar.
This is because the colony of wild yeast and bacteria thrive in the comfort of their own little home. Sounds weird, right?
Should I clean my sourdough starter jar every day?
Again, the short answer is NO - it's definitely not necessary to clean your jar every day, or even every few days, even if it's left on the counter at room temperature. You can simply remove the amount of discard you need and add equal parts fresh flour and water to refresh it without cleaning the jar at all!
To keep the top of your sourdough starter jar clean, you can use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the jar, or use a paper towel to wipe off any excess - doing this on a regular basis will help to ensure you are maintaining a healthy sourdough starter.
TIPS TO KEEP YOUR STARTER JAR CLEAN WITHOUT WASHING IT:
use a wide mouthed mason jar - these are my favorite.
use a larger container to ensure that your sourdough starter doesn't overflow - I prefer glass containers (these are great).
mix your sourdough starter in a clean bowl before transferring back into your jar
use a flexible jar spatula to scrape down the sides of the jar
use a paper towel or damp cloth to wipe the rim of the jar after feeding
regular feeding of your sourdough starter will help keep the bacteria and natural yeast working to avoid mold - so go feed it!
With all that said...some of you might be wondering: Is it ok to use a clean jar every time I feed my sourdough starter?
YES, while it's not necessary it is not harmful to your starter to clean it every day. Some people use the "two jar method" which means you feed into a clean jar and then wash the dirty jar ready for the next feed.
You DOUGH you.
Happy Baking!
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