Sourdough bread and the frugal -- COLD -- household

[heathenmom]

Maybe I should have put this in another forum, but since I *know* there are lots of : mamas here who bake, I figured I'd start here. I started baking all of our bread last fall (yay me!), but recently decided that I wanted to try sourdough. Yeah. Our house stays about 65-68*F, and I'm thinking that when they say to set the starter in a warm place they mean a little warmer than that. What do you do? I stuck it in the oven (gas/pilot light) tonight but I'd like to find out if there's a better solution than that.

Thanks!

[katheek77]

I put mine on top of my fridge for the initial day and a few hours before I make the dough (small family - we go through about a loaf a week). Our fridge top is naturally warm. Don't know if that's normal.

[HydeParkB]

We put it on top of the gas stove or in the oven. The gas pilot lights keep the bowl relatively warm.

[Katie Bugs Mama]

I always just put things like that in the oven like you did. Is there a reason that you don't want to do that?

[TiredX2]

Thanks for the idea.

We keep our house a lot colder (high of 63 when DP is home, low of 55 during the night) and so that stuff never works!

[heathenmom]

Thanks for the replies, ladies! I've just now had a chance to come back and read everybody's suggestions. On top of the fridge would be a GREAT place, except we only have about 4" clearance between the top of the fridge and the bottom of the cabinet. The only reason I didn't love the idea of keeping it in the oven is that I bake a good bit and I didn't really want to have to keep taking it in and out. Plus, I'm kind of afraid I'll forget it's in there and accidentally ruin it. I haven't yet checked it (the recipe says to not even peek at it until it's been in there for 2 days, and don't use it until day 3 -- today is day 2) and I'll be baking some ww yeast bread and some muffins this afternoon, and maybe dinner to. I guess any time I'm actually *using* the oven, then beside the stove will be a pretty warm place.

Thanks again ... we'll see how it goes!

[dawny]

I have the same problem and I keep my house at 68F. I was going to suggest top of fridge or freezer too, but since that won't work, what about laundry room? Heat from the dryer (when you use it) might keep the temperature a little higher.

Or some place in direct sunlight covered with a dark towel (if the sun is shining
)

Also the cabinet above your fridge might be a little warmer since it gets the heat from your fridge.

If you have baseboard heat or heat in the floor, you could put the bowl right on the register (or near it). I do this a lot to dry wet shoes, boots, and gloves.

[annethcz]

I've found that I can make bread, even in a cold house, if I just allow the bread to sit a few hours longer to rise. So it doesn't *have* to be warm, it just needs extra time.