CrumbwiseSourdough starter not rising? What to do
A starter that won't rise is usually cold, underfed or in its quiet phase. Most can be revived in 2–5 days.
Is it the day 3–5 quiet phase?
New starters often bubble wildly on day 2 and then go quiet. That's normal: keep feeding daily; the real yeast takes over around days 5–10.
Warm it up
Starters love 75–80°F (24–27°C). Put it in the oven with only the light on, or near (not on) a warm appliance.
Feed with whole grain
Swap a quarter of the flour for whole wheat or rye. More nutrients, faster activity.
Feed more often, keep less
Keep 25 g of starter and feed 50 g flour + 50 g water every 12 hours for a few days.
Check the water
Heavily chlorinated tap water can slow things down. Leave water out overnight or use filtered.
Use a rubber band
Mark the level right after feeding. Rise is much easier to judge — and a photo check in Crumbwise tracks it for you.
📸 Not sure what's happening? Snap a photo — Crumbwise checks it for freeCrumbwise is an AI bread coach: photo checks for starters, dough and loaves, a baking planner and reminders.