Mark the starter level
Use the rubber band or marker you already put on the jar after feeding.
A simple next-step card for the jar on your counter.
How it works
From jar marker to wait, feed, or bake.
Take the next photo
Capture the jar when you think it has risen enough.
Read the card
Rise percent, likely peak state, and whether to wait, feed, or bake.
The counter-top guess
A starter does not rise on your schedule, and a curved jar does not help.
- Curved jars make level changes hard to judge.
- A starter can double, peak, and fall while you are busy.
- Beginners often know what they see but not what it means.
- Manual logs help later, but the question is happening right now.
Will it read my jar?
Questions new bakers ask while staring at the counter.
What question does this answer?
It helps answer the counter-top question: has my starter risen enough, is it still climbing, and should I wait, feed, or bake next?
What do I need to do?
Mark the starter level after feeding, then compare a later jar reading against that marker to get a simple rise and next-step card.
What if my jar is curved or the marker is hard to see?
The result should include a confidence note, so a weak read does not pretend to be certain.
Why not just use a timer?
Starter timing changes with temperature, flour, feeding ratio, and starter strength. A timer tells you elapsed time; this helps read the jar now.
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