Is my fil mjolk done for?

[estuary]

A question for those of you who culture milk with a filmjolk starter... I've been doing this for about a year and my culture even survived a way-overextended-move this summer, but when I went and made some the other day I found that it's starting to look a bit ropey. ick, I'm not into ropey. I like the custard-ability of filmjolk and wonder if this is the end of the end for my particular strain...

anybody have any experience bringing filmjolk back from the edge of disaster?

Thanks so much!

[desertpenguin]

it sounds like it's gone over the edge to me. you could try a couple more times reculturing. i killed my matsoni and my piima by not culturing every week.

[estuary]

just for future reference, in case anyone ever runs into this problem - it may turn out to be salvageable after all!

I decided to make consistent (daily) small batches to see if I can encourage the filmjolk critters to return by giving them what they like. The last few times, as it must have been progressing toward ropey, I had cultured it longer than 24 hours - maybe like 28 - due to the fact that it seemed my slightly cold kitchen wasn't allowing it to 'set' completely.

So, after only one 24 hour cultivation I checked it this morning and it seemed like its old self. I made another batch this morning and will 'harvest' tomorrow morning.

Maybe there's hope after all!