I have just bought a heat mat (designed for seeds) but I have a cold house and don't use the heating much (thermostat set to 19°C for a few hours a day) so the ideal temperature is too low and i get sluggish starters.
I bought this recently and it seems to be doing the trick! Anyone else use these, especially in colder times of the year?
by Illustrious-Divide95
29 Comments
I sometimes use the dehydrate function on my air fryer. Heats between 20c to 30c, so depending on how cold it is in general, I’ll chuck it in there for some cosy time.
I use a temperature controller with a 20w lightbulb in an old cooler. Works like a charm. I had the same mat as in your picture; but I didn’t like it.
No, I just allow mine the time it takes (even if it’s 12 hours For the starter to peak or for the dough to get to the desired height… sourdough is a dough of time and patience
Nice to see that there are other options though. I was putting in the oven with the light on, but don’t wanna over heat it
In the winter I sometimes use my Instant Pot on the yogurt setting (low setting-about 80F) to proof my bread. I doubles a bit too fast though, and the flavor is not as good.
It’s in my Amazon cart right now. When I started down the sourdough rabbit hole this year, I struggled in January to get my starter going at all and I really think it had to do with the house being too cold. Finally got it going and this summer was amazing in terms of starter feeds. Now that it’s cool again, the time it’s taking to peak has really slowed down so I’m going to buy one of these mats. Happy to see how inexpensive they are.
Yes! I do all my fermentation in a polystyrene box with a heating mat inside, it’s helped me get much more repeatable results, I’d highly recommend it! Plus it’s good for speeding up fermentation when it’s cooler weather
All the time
Yeah, I have almost the exact same one.
I use a fermentation heating pad as well. It allowed me to be far more consistent with my loaves regardless of weather/ambient temp. It also made starter and BF rise more predictable as well.
I put a piece of cardboard down 1st so I’m not heating up the stone countertop. it works well for me. I even used a foldable camping mat and a collapsible storage crate to make a insulated box that I use to proof dough. Works well!
I have an above-the-stove microwave, so I just put it in the microwave and turn the stove light on
Yes! I used to do it in the oven just with the lamp on, but after reading about those maps in a comment on this sub I immediately bought one on AliExpress. It’s really great, would totally buy again!
I put mine on my ps4. One warzone match and it’s rising
I just put mine in the oven with the light on and that keeps it nice and warm! Just make sure to put a sign saying “dough in oven” or something and tape that over the temp control of the oven or else you’ll have some cooked starter… lol
I use my seedling mat for sourdough and kefir. Today is the first really cold morning; I’ll get the mat back out soon. I like to wrap the mat loosely around the jar.
I have that exact mat
Hmmm I have a heat mat for beer fermentation, I didn’t think to use it for proving, sounds perfect for winter months. Good idea!
I tend to use a heating pad that I got for my back a few years ago. It’s now almost exclusively used during colder months when baking
thats why i bought mine in the first place 😁
I put mine on the cup warming spot on my espresso machine.
Those mats are good, but I’d recommend actually putting into a cooler, and elevating your actual starter above the mat by using a cooling rack, it helps eliminate risk of cooking your starter. Also make sure you tape the thermostat to the jar of starter and not just have it laying around so the temp you’re going off of is dough temp
Hi all. Read your workarounds for temp control. Seems to me theres a lot of heat escaping to the surrounding area. Putting the mat in a suitable insulated box on a raised rack to allow allround air circulation. Would conserve heat a provided that there is thermostatic controlk
Happy baking
No but I’ve been curious.
Never bothered. It takes its time, and if you use warm water for your starter you can make it go a little bit quicker. But you don’t have to put paper over the top, that’ll just let it dry out. Just put the lid on the jar.
I’ve noticed no difference on my starter going from 22c to 17c room temp. It just takes longer is all.
My house is so cold and dark I use a Brød proofing box. Some people make their own on the cheap. Whatever works, right?
In a pinch I’ve used a candle warmer!
I just put it near the router
This was the setup I had for a while inside a cooler with the jar sitting on a rack. THEN I simply got a Brod and Taylor proofing box. Best investment ever.