What Is the Gray Liquid on Top of My Sourdough Starter? (And How to Fix It!)

If you’ve ever peeked at your sourdough starter and noticed a thin gray liquid sitting on top, you might have panicked—"Is my starter dead?!" Don’t worry! This is actually a common (and harmless) occurrence.

What Is the Gray Liquid?

That grayish, sometimes clear or brownish liquid is called "hooch." It’s a byproduct of fermentation, and it forms when your sourdough starter is hungry and running out of food (flour).

• Why does it happen?

  • Your starter has consumed all the available sugars and produces alcohol (hooch) as a natural result.

  • It can also appear if your starter is left too long between feedings or stored in a warm environment.

Good news: Hooch is a sign that your starter is alive and active—just neglected!

⚠️ IMPORTANT CHECK!
If you find any mold on your sourdough starter, DO NOT use it or try to save it! Discard it immediately and start fresh—either make a new starter or get a healthy one here!

What Should You Do with It?

You have two options:

1. Stir It Back In – If you like a more tangy, sour flavor, mix the hooch back into the starter before feeding.

2. Pour It Off – If you prefer a milder taste, drain the liquid before refreshing your starter.

How to Revive Your Starter

If your starter has hooch, it just needs a little love:

1. Discard half of your starter (or use it in a recipe—see below!).

2. Feed with equal parts flour and water (e.g., 30g flour + 30g water).

3. Let it sit at room temperature for 4–12 hours until bubbly and active again.

After 1–2 feedings, your starter should be back to its happy, bubbly self!

Baking with Unfed Starter (Yes, You Can!)

Don’t want to wait? You can still bake with it!

That hooch-filled starter is packed with flavor and can be used directly in recipes like:

• Sourdough pancakes

• Discard crackers

• Quick breads

(Stay tuned for my upcoming video where I’ll show you how to bake with unfed starter—no feeding required!)

Final Thoughts

A gray liquid on your sourdough starter is not a death sentence—it’s just asking for food! Now you know how to revive it or bake with it as-is.

Have you ever baked with hoochy starter? Share your experience in the comments! 🍞✨