Can I make a rye starter if the temps are low?

[chickenannie]

The recipes all say the temps must be 75 degrees to make a rye starter (rye flour and water). I mixed it but my house is more like 50-60 degrees (saving on energy!) and I'm wondering if it will still work?

Also, does anyone have a good recipe and method for making rye starter. I was confused by all the methods out there. I will be making rye crackers.

 

[miss_thenorth]

are you talking about making a rye sourdough starter? If so, the temps do need to be fairly high, I believe above 65F, but I am no sourdough expert. I just know for fermentation, the temp has to be higher than 65.

eta--for wine making fermentation.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

You could try putting a seedling heat mat under your rye starter, especially if you have a mat with a thermostat. I found that helpful in keeping my sourdough at the right temperature even though our house was cold, but I can't guarantee it would work as well as if the air temperature were high.

There are a lot of different starter recipes, so you should probably just choose whichever one appeals to you the most or one that the cracker recipe recommends (if it makes a recommendation).

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

hey CA!

so glad to see you over here! sorry but i dont have one hoot to add about your starter... just glad that you 'started' over here!