How To Freeze Sourdough Starter To Revive Later

Learn how to freeze sourdough starter for when life give you a busy schedule. This simple technique can be a game changer–it’s a great way to preserve your beloved starter without daily feedings or waste!

Homemade sourdough bread is a staple in our home, and while a loaf of sourdough bread freezes well, so does active sourdough starter! It’s the best option for a quick preservation (versus dried starter) so you have a healthy sourdough starter for future use.

Whether you’re going on vacation, taking a sourdough baking break, or just want a backup in case something goes wrong with your current batch, freezing your sourdough starter is a low-effort, high-reward method every home baker should know.

It only takes a few minutes to create a frozen stash and will give you peace of mind knowing that your bubbly, thriving starter can be revived whenever you’re ready to bake again.

The good news is that the freezing process is simple. It is a good idea for long term storage (up to a year!) or for a backup starter. As long as you have a mature sourdough starter, you’re ready to move it to the cold temperatures of the freezer! This is my favorite method of preserving and is the best way use up excess starter.

Freezing your starter means you’ll always have one ready to go for a favorite sourdough recipe—sourdough chocolate chip scones, sourdough pumpkin bread, overnight sourdough english muffins, or soft sourdough pita bread.

Why You’ll Love This Guide

Stress-free preservation: A frozen sourdough starter means no more worrying if your starter will survive a week off or an unexpected trip. It’s a convenient way to have starter for later use.

Perfect for busy seasons: Whether it’s the holidays, summer travel, or back-to-school, you can pause your sourdough journey and pick back up later with zero waste. You don’t have to keep up with a feeding schedule, but you still have starter for that first loaf of bread when you are back at it.

A safety net for sourdough lovers: Freeze a backup so you’re never left without a starter again—even if your current one goes bad. While dried sourdough starter is great, this is an easy way to preserve quickly. Plus, you can get sourdough bread dough rising for your sourdough loaf easily when you’re ready! 

What Is Freezing Sourdough Starter?

Freezing sourdough starter is an excellent way to preserve a starter that allows you to store your wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria for a long time without regular feedings. Unlike commercial yeast, sourdough is a living culture made up of a complex community of microorganisms—and it’s surprisingly tough. In fact, many of these microbes are among the most resilient life-forms on earth, capable of surviving harsh conditions like freezing temperatures.

Unlike drying, which takes days, freezing only takes a few minutes and works especially well if you’re already familiar with feeding and maintaining a healthy starter. When revived properly, it comes back to life beautifully, ready to help you rise loaves, pancakes, scones, and more.

How To Freeze Sourdough Starter

1. Feed your starter like you normally would and wait until it’s bubbly and active (usually 4–6 hours after feeding). I typically feed mine 1:2:2 using 25 grams of starter, 50 grams of water, and 50 grams of flour
2. Transfer about ¼ to ½ cup of active starter into a clean, freezer-safe airtight container or freezer bag. You can also flash freeze a small pieces in a thin layer on a silicone mat.
3. Flatten or seal your ziplock bag or container to make a thin layer of sourdough culture. Press out as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn.
4. Label and freeze. Note the date and whether it’s 100% hydration (equal parts water and flour).
5. Store in freezer for up to 12 months. I recommend using within 6 months for best results.

How To Revive A Frozen Sourdough Starter

1. Thaw the frozen starter overnight in the fridge or in a warm spot at room temperature for a few hours.
2. Feed it using 1:10:10 ratio (e.g. 10 g starter, 100 g flour, 100 g water).
3. Let it sit at room temp until bubbly. Depending on the temperature in your home, this can take 8-12 hours.
4. Repeat feeding every 12–24 hours until strong again (usually 2–3 feedings). Remember ti discard half of the starter during feedings. (But don’t toss the sourdough discard! Place it in a glass jar in the fridge to use in other recipes.)

Recipe Tips

• Use a mature starter: You want a starter at least one month old for best results when reviving. Feed it fresh flour and look for signs of activity before freezing.
• Freeze in small portions: This helps speed thawing and lets you revive only what you need. You can freeze any amount of starter, but small portions are a simple way to reduce waste. 
• Use airtight containers: Exposure to freezer air can dry out your starter and make it harder to revive. While you can use a mason jar, you want to fill it almost to the top. Leave a little room for expansion, and place a piece of parchment paper on top of the starter to prevent ice crystals.
• Label everything: Write the date of freezing on the plastic bag or freezer-safe container, especially if you have multiple starters or hydration levels.

Other Options For Freezing Sourdough Starter

• Dry sourdough starter: Don’t want to freeze? Try drying your sourdough starter for a shelf-stable version.
• Discard starter for freezing: You can freeze sourdough starter discard too! It’s perfect for quick discard recipes.
• Freeze with mix-ins: If you typically feed with whole wheat or rye, you can freeze it that way too—just make a note on the label.
• Starter cubes: Pour small portions into a silicone ice cube tray, silicone muffin tin, or silicone molds to create quick, portioned amounts. These frozen starter cubes are great for smaller recipes like pancakes or muffins.

How To Freeze Sourdough Starter FAQs

I hope this guide is helpful!

Sourdough Recipes You May Enjoy…

• Sourdough Bread Bowls
• Sourdough Calzones
• Same Day Sourdough Pizza Dough
• Sourdough Tortillas
• Overnight Sourdough Bagels
• Rosemary Sourdough Bread

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