The Dead Starter: Pathogen Takeover in Neglected Jars
There is a point of no return. A moment when a neglected starter stops being a culture of beneficial microbes and becomes a Petri dish for pathogens. This transition is chemical. It is driven by a single variable: pH.
pH Dynamics: Charting the Drop from 6.0 to 3.5
The true clock of sourdough is not measured in minutes, but in pH. The transformation of dough from a simple mixture of flour and water into a complex, digestible, and flavorful loaf is driven by acidification. Understanding the curve of this drop is the difference between a loaf that is bland and gummy, and one that sings.