There is nothing worse than working hard to create a healthy sourdough starter only to let it go to waste when life gets busy. I know this feeling firsthand, because when i had my baby, i didnt pull my starter out for 5 months. It looked insane, and my husband told me to just throw it out. Luckily, after several feedings, i was able to revive it. That is why i am going to show you to to freeze your sourdough starter and revive it when you need it.
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- Why You Want to Freeze Sourdough Starter
- Does Freezing Your Sourdough Starter Harm the Starter
- Is it Better to Freeze or Dry Sourdough Starter?
- How Long Does Frozen Sourdough Starter Last?
- What You'll Need
- How to Freeze Sourdough Starter: Step-by-step Instructions
- Store
- How to Revive Frozen Sourdough Starter
- What to Expect When Baking With a Just Revived Starter?
- Tips
- How to Freeze Sourdough Starter FAQs
Why You Want to Freeze Sourdough Starter
There are many reasons that you would want to freeze your sourdough starter.
- Taking a break from baking: whether you are postpartum or just need a break from constantly feeding your starter and baking.
- Traveling: if you will be traveling for an extended period, having frozen starter on hand for when you get back is a great idea.
- Back up: A few weeks ago, my husband was cleaning the kitchen when i heard glass shatter. Turns out it was my jar of sourdough starter. Luckily, i had some discard in the fridge, but having starter frozen is a great way to preserve your starter in case something goes wrong.
- Great way to use discard: although it is best to freeze an active starter, you can freeze discard if you have a lot on hand.
Does Freezing Your Sourdough Starter Harm the Starter
No, freezing sourdough starter does not harm the starter. Once frozen, the yeast and bacteria present in the starter go dormant. Once thawed, they wake back up.
You may notice that the starter is sluggish after you take it out of the freezer, and it may take several feedings to get it fully active again.
Is it Better to Freeze or Dry Sourdough Starter?
Both methods are great, it just depends on your lifestyle and why you need to store the starter.
- Freezing is faster and easier and is great for short-term storage ( a few weeks to a couple of months).
- Drying takes more time, but a dehydrated starter can last for years if stored properly.
I have a tutorial on How to Dehydrate Your Sourdough Starter, you can check it out for longer-term storage.
How Long Does Frozen Sourdough Starter Last?
Frozen starter is best if revived within 3 months. After that, it is still good, however, it will take several feedings to revive the starter back to full strength.
If you plan on storing it longer, then drying out your starter may be a better option.
What You’ll Need
- Active sourdough starter: You can also use the discard.
- Silicone ice cube tray:
- Butter Knife to evenly spread and level the starter in the tray.
- An air-tight container, such as a ziplock bag, to store the frozen sourdough starter.
How to Freeze Sourdough Starter: Step-by-step Instructions
Feed your starter
6-12 hours before you plan to freeze the starter, feed it and let it become active and bubbly.
Pour into the mold
Put the active starter into the silicone ice cube tray and use a butter knife to level off the starter.
Freeze
Place the mold into the freezer and allow it to freeze solid. Placing it in the freezer overnight is a perfect option.
Transfer to a freezer-safe container
Once the starter is completely frozen, pop them out of the silicone mold and place them in a freezer-safe container, such as a ziplock.
Store
Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to Revive Frozen Sourdough Starter
Thaw at room temperature
Place a frozen starter cube into a jar and allow it to thaw.
Feed
Feed the starter how you’d normally feed it. I opt for a 2:1 ratio.
Let it sit
Cover loosely and allow it to sit for 12-24 hours, until you begin to see signs of life, such as bubbling. Depending on how long the starter was frozen, you may not see signs of life just yet.
Feed again
Keep feeding every 12-24 hours until the starter is reliably rising within 4-6 hours.
What to Expect When Baking With a Just Revived Starter?
Once you start baking with your sourdough starter, it is normal for things to take longer than usual. If you are used to your starter doubling within 4 hours, it may take 6. You may also need to extend your bulk fermentation to account for this change. After a few weeks of feeding, the revived starter should return to its normal strength.
Tips
- Dont use a sluggish starter: If your starter is already struggling, try strengthening it before you freeze. The best way i have found to have a strong starter is feeding it more flour and water.
You can check out my post on How i feed my starter to maintain strength.
- Use multiple portions: if one cube doesn’t revive well, try adding another.
- Revive in a warm spot: starters like to be warm, so placing it a warm spot can speed up the revival process. If your house runs cold, you can also buy a bread proofing box for better control of the temperature.
- Be patient: if, after a few days, you are not seeing an active bubbly starter, continue to feed it. It’s normal for the starter to be sluggish during the revival process.
How to Freeze Sourdough Starter FAQs
Can i use the starter straight from the fridge, or one that is not very active?
Yes, but for the best results, use fed starter. It will likely take longer to revive if you use unfed starter.
How do i know the frozen starter is still good?
You know the starter is still good if, after you thaw it and feed it, it reactivates and is bubbly and reliably rising after a couple of days.
How many times can i freeze and thaw my starter?
Technically, you can freeze and thaw starter as many times as you’d like. However, each time you freeze the starter, you weaken the culture. If you bake often, it is best to keep a fed starter on hand and keep the frozen starter as backup.
Can i bake immediately after revving my starter?
I would hold off for a few days to give the starter a chance to build strength. If you are eager to bake, go with discard recipes that dont rely on the starter as the sole leavening agent.
Is it better to freeze or refrigerate your starter?
The fridge is best for very short-term storage (a week or less). Freezing allows you to put the starter on pause for longer breaks or to have as a backup.
How to Freeze Sourdough Starter
Learn how to freeze sourdough starter to put a pause on your baking or long-term preservation.
Materials
- Sourdough Starter
Tools
- Silicone Mold
- Butter Knife
Instructions
How to Freeze
Feed your starter
6-12 hours before you plan to freeze the starter, feed it and let it become active and bubbly.
Pour into the mold
Put the active starter into the silicone ice cube tray and use a butter knife to level off the starter.
Freeze:
Place the mold into the freezer and allow it to freeze solid. Placing it in the freezer overnight is a perfect option.
Transfer to a freezer-safe container
Once the starter is completely frozen, pop them out of the silicone mold and place them in a freezer-safe container, such as a ziploc.
Store
Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to revive frozen sourdough starter
Thaw at room temperature
Place a frozen starter cube into a jar and allow to thaw.
Feed
Feed the starter how you'd normally feed it. I opt for a 2:1 ratio.
Let it sit
Cover loosely and allow it to sit for 12-24 hours, until you begin to see signs of life, such as bubbling. Depending on how long the starter was frozen, you may not see signs of life just yet.
Feed again
Keep feeding every 12-24 hours until the starter is reliably rising and within 4-6 hours.
Notes
Dont use a sluggish starter: If your starter is already struggling, strengthen it before freezing.
Revive in a warm location: This will speed up how long it takes for the starter to reactivate.
