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Gluten won't form - bringing starter on vacation

Robert Grossman/Tari Cody <rdgtlc@yahoo.com>
Mon, 30 Jul 2012 21:14:38 -0700 (PDT)
v112.n028.3
I fed my starter at home before heading out on vacation. It almost 
exploded out of the container while sitting in the refrigerator. I 
took some of it with me, in the car (not in a cooler), it did explode 
out of the container.

When I arrived (we traveled from sea level to about 7500 feet) I took 
it out (it was leaking out of the container), added salt, let it sit 
a couple hours or so and then put it in the refrigerator. Then took 
it out next day to knead and shape. It is shaggy and no gluten. I 
tried kneading a few times, resting a while between kneads, adding 
flour to make it less sticky but couldn't get it to form a nice 
smooth skin. It has craters on the surface, although it does seem rise.

Is it the altitude or allowing it to sit too long? I was hoping to 
make bread at altitude, but so far no luck. Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks.