[QUOTE=clkeiper;742586]does anyone know if or what stirring with a metal spoon really does to the mixture? I stir my sourdough starter with a metal spoon and it doesn't seem to hurt it... what does it do? or is it the kind of metal such as an aluminum utensil if they make such a thing or id it an old wives tale? fact fiction myth?[/QUOTE]

Any food grade stainless is fine.
All of my curing sauerkraut mixing and brining are in 18/10 stainless.
Cheapo stainless no.
Storing certain stuff in certain metal is where problems start.
I could extrapolate but reluctant to do so.