Crumbwise

Guides

Grey liquid on sourdough starter (hooch): is it bad?

The grey, brown or clear liquid on top of a starter is called hooch. It's alcohol made by hungry yeast — not mold.

What it means

Your starter ran out of food. It happens after a long time between feeds, in warm kitchens or with high-hydration starters.

What to do

Pour it off for a milder flavor or stir it in for a tangier one, then feed. If it keeps appearing, feed more often or use a bigger feed ratio like 1:2:2.

When it IS a problem

Pink, orange or red streaks, fuzzy spots, or colored patches are mold. Then the whole starter must go — don't scrape it off. See our mold guide.

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