Yeast Harvesting Or Slanting Question?? Not Sure!!

[hbhudy]

OK.. Quick question hopefully.. I have started to harvest yeast from each batch I make, but I am doing this by harvesting from the starter. I am making a 2ltr starter and saving off about a pint each time and using that for my next starter. Given this how long/many time can I continue to do this?? I have read that you can get 4 generations from the yeast you have harvested (If I understand this correctly), which would either mean that I can get 4 batches from the 1st smack pack grown into a starter OR I can get 4 batches from each one of the starters I save. I really don't know which one it is.. Can I go on indefinitely because I am not not using the yeast from the cake or is it just the 4th generation from the 1st time I opened the smack pack??

I truly appreciate any assistance you would like to share.

HB

 

[tally350z]

Many have used the same yeast after dozens of batches, that's with washing yeast from a cake. Since your using the yeast from the starter, the yeast are not nearly as stressed as they would be from a regular batch. As long as you use good sanitary practices you can go on for a loooong time. Only concern with taking yeast from the start is that your not under pitching the batch its for..