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Debbie Pribele
439 posts
and
18 followers
in over 2 years
in over 2 years
Sourdough Journey #9: Can you freeze-dry sourdough starter?
This is
part 9
in a
31 part
series:
Sourdough Journey
...
-
Sourdough Discard Breadsticks
-
Can you freeze-dry sourdough starter?
-
This Month’s Giveaway: The Sourdough Whisperer Book
...
...
- Sourdough Discard Breadsticks
- Can you freeze-dry sourdough starter?
- This Month’s Giveaway: The Sourdough Whisperer Book
...
Can you freeze-dry sourdough starter?
Well, of course.
You can freezedry anything.
Whether it turns out okay is another story.
Well, of course.
You can freezedry anything.
Whether it turns out okay is another story.
The Experiment
Rather than waste a batch of sourdough discard, I wondered what would happen if I freeze-dried it.
My goal was to make a powder that could be added to flour. That really was as far ahead as I had thought.
But, once I had freeze-dried it, ground it to a powder, and added it to some baking mixes (successfully, I might add), I wondered if the yeast could be brought back to life.
Day 1
Active: I had had my active sourdough starter in the refrigerator. I brought it out and fed it.
Experiment: The freeze-dried, I added water to reconstitute it.
Day 2
AM: In the morning, I fed both the active starter and the experimental freeze-dried one.
I think this is looking hopeful! I see bubbles.
PM: At night, I fed the freeze-dried one as well, as it had some pooling of liquid on the top and thought that it might be hungry.
Day 3
It’s Day 3 and I compare the two starters: my freeze-dried version does not look active.
Results
At this point, I feel that the answer to the freeze-drying question is “no”.
Now, back on that first day, when I saw bubbles, maybe it just needed some extra pampering.
Now, back on that first day, when I saw bubbles, maybe it just needed some extra pampering.
Where there are bubbles, there is yeast?
But, at Day 3, and it is flat, I feel that trying to revive it would just be creating a sourdough starter from scratch again.
Will I try this experiment again?
No.
Why not?
There are other experiments out there where people used dry scrapings and (regular) freezing of starters as long-term options.
And, I read a story, just this morning, about someone finding and bringing back to life yeast from ancient Egyptian finds. That was fascinating and opens the door to so many natural options for saving a yeast.
Freeze/drying? Although it might work, it just doesn’t need to.
Why not?
There are other experiments out there where people used dry scrapings and (regular) freezing of starters as long-term options.
And, I read a story, just this morning, about someone finding and bringing back to life yeast from ancient Egyptian finds. That was fascinating and opens the door to so many natural options for saving a yeast.
Freeze/drying? Although it might work, it just doesn’t need to.
Next Step
Now, I’m going to use my experimental starter in some discard biscuits. I guess this will be another experiment!
- Debbie
Have you tried this?
a simpler life
