Whether you're big into baking with your sourdough starter, or just picked up a loaf of sourdough bread from the bakery, you're probably hoping to keep it fresh for as long as possible—if you don't manage to eat the whole thing in a day or two (guilty!). So that raises the question: Can you freeze sourdough bread—or will it impact the texture and flavor of the bread? And better yet, can you freeze sourdough starter if you love to bake your own but can't keep up with feeding your yeast?
The short answer is yes to both questions—but you'll need to prep them properly to ensure perfect sourdough for your next baking project or meal.
Can You Freeze Sourdough Bread?
The good news: You can freeze sourdough bread! That's the perfect way to keep your bread fresh if you won't be able to get through a loaf in a few days. Generally, a homemade loaf can do three to five days at room temperature, before it may go stale or develop bread mold.
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Frozen sourdough bread will have the best quality if you use it within three months of popping it in the freezer, but it'll still be usable indefinitely after that.
How to Freeze Sourdough Bread
The trick to freezing sourdough bread? Keep air away from the bread's surface to avoid freezer burn. If you're freezing a freshly baked loaf, you'll want to wait until it cools completely. You can freeze a whole loaf, a half loaf, or even cut it into slices, then wrap the bread tightly in freezer-friendly products. Consider double wrapping—in plastic wrap and then foil, or placing your tightly wrapped bread in a freezer bag with all the air pushed out of it.
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If you are freezing individual slices, you can wrap and store them in smaller freezer bags, so you don't have to disturb the whole loaf if you need a couple of slices for toast.
How to Thaw Sourdough Bread
When you're ready to use your frozen sourdough bread, the best way to thaw it is basically, fast and hot. That means popping individual slices into the toaster or toaster oven. (Many have a specific frozen setting to do it justice.)
If you're thawing a full loaf, try putting it in a 325-degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes to get it back to fresh baked.
You can also place a frozen sourdough on the countertop to thaw—it should just take a few hours, even for a full loaf.
Can You Freeze Sourdough Starter?
If you're a baker who's gone all-in on the sourdough baking trend, you probably have a jar of starter somewhere in your kitchen. But if you aren't baking or using your sourdough regularly, it can be a little wasteful to keep feeding that wild yeast until you're ready to make some bread.
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Fortunately, you can chill or even freeze your sourdough starter to slow down the yeast's activity and preserve it until you're ready to bake. Sourdough starter stored in the fridge will stay in good shape for the occasional baker who might be making a loaf or two every couple of weeks. But if you need to store it longer—for instance, if you won't be baking much in the summer—the freezer is your best option.
How to Freeze Sourdough Starter
To freeze your sourdough starter, place a cup of the starter in a freezer storage bag, remove as much air as possible, and pop it into the freezer. You won't need to feed your starter again until you're ready to thaw it.
How to Thaw Sourdough Starter
You'll need to plan ahead when you're ready to start using your starter again, as you'll not only have to allow for thaw time, but you'll have to give your starter some TLC and feed it flour and water to help revive your yeast. It could take a few days for it to thaw and reset.
Start by taking your starter out of the freezer, and letting it thaw to room temperature. Then, discard half of the starter and feed it as you typically would. You may need to go through a couple of feedings before your sourdough will be ready to go.
FAQs
Sourdough bread freezes extremely well and when done properly means we can enjoy our sourdough even when we are too busy to bake. It is also a fantastic way to avoid waste.
What are the benefits of freezing sourdough? ›
We still love fresh sourdough, but freezing is certainly a good alternative. Not only is it a great way to preserve your bread but it could lower its GI.
How to defrost frozen sourdough bread? ›
Don't Thaw Bread on the Counter—Heat It
Remove the number of slices you need from the freezer and microwave them on high power until softened, 15 to 25 seconds." If you'd rather skip the microwave, you can also bake slices on a rimmed baking sheet at 325°F for about 5 minutes.
How to store fresh sourdough bread? ›
So, with this in mind, I always recommend storing your freshly-baked sourdough loaf in a cotton bread bag or simply wrap it in a cotton tea towel to allow the bread to 'breathe'. Then, leave your bread in a cool place, so it can maintain normal moisture levels without encouraging bacteria and mould to grow.
What is the best way to freeze fresh sourdough bread? ›
The trick to freezing sourdough bread? Keep air away from the bread's surface to avoid freezer burn. If you're freezing a freshly baked loaf, you'll want to wait until it cools completely. You can freeze a whole loaf, a half loaf, or even cut it into slices, then wrap the bread tightly in freezer-friendly products.
How long does homemade sourdough bread last in the freezer? ›
(1) Slice bread or leave loaf whole; (2) Wrap tightly with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, or place in heavy-duty freezer bag and freeze. How long does a loaf of sourdough bread last in the freezer? Properly stored, it will maintain best quality for about 3 months, but will remain safe beyond that time.
Why should sourdough not be refrigerated? ›
Storing sourdough bread in the fridge
If left uncovered the fridge will dry the sourdough out. Even if the sourdough has been covered well it will most likely be hard when you remove it from the fridge. At this stage, it is probably best used for toast or making grilled sandwiches.
What are the pros and cons of sourdough bread? ›
It's easier on your digestive system, typically has a lower impact on blood sugar, contains prebiotics, and has more readily available nutrients. However, it typically does not contain as much fiber as whole wheat and other whole-grain breads.
Can you leave sourdough bread out overnight? ›
Freshly baked sourdough can be left out on the countertop for a day or two before using any of the rest of the methods in this guide. After cutting into the loaf, the crucial step is to ensure you leave it cut side down on your breadboard or chopping board.
Is sourdough bread healthy? ›
It's richer in nutrients, less likely to spike your blood sugar, contains lower amounts of gluten, and is generally easier to digest than bread made with baker's yeast. Sourdough bread is one of my favorite types of bread. Not only do I find it tastier than conventional bread, but it's also arguably more nutritious.
Remove the bread from the freezer and wrap it completely in kitchen towel. Place your bread on the microwave plate, making sure the slices don't overlap. Set the dial to 10 or 15 seconds and off you go. Less is always more, so start with short blasts in the microwave – you can always pop it in for a few more seconds.
Can I store sourdough bread in a ziplock bag? ›
Ziploc Bags
It's great when you are in a pinch. Cons: Again, if you do not let your bread cool completely before placing it in a Ziploc bag, it could cause condensation. This moisture may make your bread soggy and mold faster.
How long does fresh sourdough last on the counter? ›
It is edible for around 3 days. Between days 3 to 5 it would need to be toasted or warmed before consuming. After day 5 your sourdough bread would be stale (but not moldy).
Why is my sourdough so dense? ›
FAQs. My sourdough seems undercooked, dense, gummy and has big cavernous holes in it. This sounds like the bread is under-proofed. A too-short bulk ferment or an immature starter that wasn't quite ready to bake with can be the cause of an under-proofed dough.
How to bring sourdough bread back to life? ›
REVIVING A LOAF FOR FRESH EATING
Splash some water over the top of your bread, just enough to become slightly damp. Place the loaf in a 250°F oven for 5 to 10 minutes. Watch it closely and remove it when warm. Too long in the oven and you'll get dried-out toast.
How do you bring frozen bread back to life? ›
Before you need to use a loaf, remove it from the freezer and set it on a countertop in its packaging. The bread will reabsorb any moisture on the inside of the bag or wrap. Let it sit until it reaches room temperature. Wade then reheats room-temperature, unwrapped bread at 350°F for about 10 minutes.
How do you restart frozen sourdough? ›
To reactivate the frozen starter, place a cube into a jar and allow it to thaw. Once fully thawed, feed with 100g water and 100g flour. The next day transfer 25 grams to a new jar and feed with 100 grams of water and 100 grams of flour. Feed the starter once a day until it starts to double in size.
