A Complete Guide On How To Freeze Sourdough Starter

Sharing is caring!

Have you ever wondered can you freeze your sourdough starter? This is the COMPLETE guide that you NEED to read on how to freeze sourdough starter.

As a fellow sourdough baker myself, I would be devastated if anything were to happen to my sourdough starter. I am sure you would be heartbroken if your sourdough starter had to be thrown away! After all, it takes three months or more to make a mature sourdough starter. Freezing your sourdough starter is a great way to preserve it in case anything happens to your main starter.

In this post, I am going over the BEST way how to freeze sourdough starter. No need to worry about your sourdough starter on vacation or can yeast survive freezing during the freezing process because this guide will go over EVERYTHING you need to know. From storing your starter for a long time and even sourdough starter discard in the freezer, to different storage options, to even reviving sourdough starter from the fridge, no need to look any further.

This post is all about A Complete Guide On How To Freeze Sourdough Starter.

How To Freeze Sourdough Starter

Can You Freeze Sourdough Starter?

Yes, you can freeze sourdough starter. I suggest that you freeze sourdough starter so that you always have a backup starter. It is a good idea to have a backup starter. A sourdough starter always has the chance that it goes bad. It can grow mold, get bug larvae in it, or accidentally get thrown into the trash. As a fellow baker and home cook myself, I do sourdough baking multiple times a week. I cannot live without my sourdough starter. I would be DEVASTATED if anything were to happen to my sourdough starter! It is best to keep a frozen starter in the freezer just in case. Do not worry about whether the sourdough starter will survive the freezing process. Sourdough culture is made up of natural yeast and wild yeast. The yeast is resilient and will survive!

How do you store a starter in the freezer?

There are three methods for freezing sourdough starter in the fridge. The three simple methods have easy instructions that anyone (beginner or pro) can follow. Each method has its pros and cons. No matter which method you use for storing a starter in the freezer, you will always have a starter for later use. However, for best results, you want to make sure that the active starter you freeze is a mature sourdough starter (three-plus months in age).

Method 1 – Freezer Safe Container

This is the EASIEST and QUICKEST way to freeze your sourdough starter and sourdough starter discard. Simply pour the starter or discard into a freezer-safe container. There are food-safe plastic containers that you can buy on Amazon. These are food-safe and what lots of restaurants use around the world. You can also use a glass container or glass jar. Even an airtight container may work. Just make sure that it is freezer-safe so that it does not break.

Method 2 – Ice Cube Trays

The ice cube trays method is best for making small pieces of sourdough starter! Freeze sourdough starter with this method if you want to be able to use portions of the frozen starter or discard. This method takes more time than freezing your starter in a freezer-safe container. However, the convenience of the ice cube trays method lies during future use.
To freeze your starter or discard in ice trays, simply pour your starter or discard into the ice cube trays. Then, cover the trays with plastic wrap and place the trays into your freezer overnight. The next day, take the frozen starter cubes and place them in a freezer container.

Method 3 – Ziplock bag or Freezer bag

This is an excellent way for storing sourdough starter frozen for long term storage. Storing your sourdough starter in an airtight Ziplock bag will eliminate the chance of ice crystals forming on your starter. You will not have to deal with freezer burn. This method also shines when you want to defrost your frozen starter. Out of all the methods, storing your sourdough starter in a ziplock bag will be the quickest to defrost.
To store your sourdough starter in a Ziplock bag or freezer bag, simply scoop one cup of sourdough starter into the Ziplock bag. I use a quart-sized plastic bag. Place the bag flat on a table while the bag is 90% closed. Squeeze the air out of the bag and make sure the sourdough starter or discard fills the entire bag. Place the bag in the freezer and freeze while it is flat.
Since the sourdough starter is frozen flat, it will be faster to defrost. It will also be easier to store compared to a glass container or plastic food container. This method takes less space in the freezer.

How to thaw frozen sourdough starter

At a later time, you are ready to thaw your sourdough starter! To thaw the frozen sourdough starter, simply take the frozen starter out of the freezer. You can leave it on the kitchen counter overnight at room temperature while your sourdough starter thaws. Pick a warm spot in your kitchen! Make sure that the frozen sourdough starter is covered with plastic wrap so that it does not dry out.
You can continue regular feedings once your active sourdough starter is no longer frozen. The wild yeast in starters are the most resilient life-forms!

Is it better to freeze or dry sourdough starter?

It is better to freeze AND dry your sourdough starter. That way, you have two backup starter options in case anything were to happen. Your frozen sourdough starter can go bad if your freezer breaks, dethaws or the power goes out. On the other hand, your dry sourdough starter can go bad if pantry moths get to it. Thus, by storing frozen starter AND dried starter, you will be covered. But don’t worry, freezing and drying your sourdough starter are simple steps.

This post was all about how to freeze sourdough starter.