Sourdough is alive and well. Well, if you take care of it and feed it! But what about those “accidents” when you forgot to feed it for a week or went on vacation and didn’t put your jar in the refrigerator? I’ve got a solution for you that will keep you, and generations to come, in sourdough forever. Read on to find out the super simple and easy way to make your sourdough starter a legacy by making sourdough reserves.
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What you’ll need:
- baking or cookie sheet (whatever you call it)
- parchment paper
- silicone spatula
- active and bubbly sourdough starter
How to keep sourdough reserves forever
Dry it out!
Yep, it’s that simple. Dry out some sourdough starter, save it in an airtight container, and you can create a lifetime legacy with your famous sourdough!
Your children and your grandchildren can enjoy your sourdough legacy for years to come with this simple sourdough hack.
Having sourdough reserves on hand is not cheating. It’s smart!
Dry active sourdough thoroughly, crumble it up, store it and rehydrate it anytime you need.
Step 1- prepare the sourdough starter
To begin, make sure your sourdough starter has been fed within the last 6-10 hours so it’s good and active with lots of bubbles and has grown in the jar by half.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (crumble the paper into a ball then flatten in on the sheet to make it lay flatter).
Use the spatula (silicone just smooths so much easier which is why I prefer one on this project) to get a healthy dollop of starter from the jar.
Now, plop the starter on the parchment paper and use the spatula to smooth the starter as best and as thin as you can.
Step 2- dry the starter
This part is easy but does take some thought. How will you DRY the starter?
Here are two options:
- use the oven with just the light on but be sure to label the oven button so no one preheats the oven with your starter inside. Too high of heat will kill the starter.
- leaving the starter out to dry is fine but also make sure it’s not fruit fly season because they love sourdough as much as we do. If you have pets (aka pet hair fairies flying through the air) and may consider gifting or selling your sourdough starter, you may consider NOT letting the starter dry on the kitchen counter.
Step 3- save the starter reserves
Once the sourdough reserves are good and dry with no moist spots at all, crumble the starter into smaller pieces.
Use a small blender to make the starter into a powder as this helps tremendously in the rehydrating process later.
Alternatively, you can smash the starter carefully with a meat tenderizer or a mortar and pestle to get similar results.
Finally, store starter in an air tight container. I like to use these little bags (as pictured below) since they can be heat sealed in the event I want to gift or sell the starter reserves.
How long does it take to fully dry sourdough starter?
The drying process time will depend on what method you use.
My choice is the oven light. This way usually dries out the starter completely within 24 hours.
In the event that I need to use the oven to cook while I am also using the oven light to dry sourdough starter, I will simply remove the starter to rest on the counter until I am done cooking and the oven has cooled down. Place the starter back inside the oven with the light on.
Why should I reserve sourdough starter?
Have you ever gone on vacation? Have you ever had a week you just didn’t feel like cooking, baking, or being in the kitchen?
These are times where one can FORGET about their sourdough on the countertop and come back days later to find mold growing on top.
Learn more about the difference between mold and hooch in my Starting Sourdough e-book (offer pops up every time you visit my website! Join my email list to get the FREE ebook.)
It happens to the best of us. Life happens. We forget. Then we regret.
No more regrets now that you’ve got your very own sourdough starter reserves in your pantry in the event of an emergency need!
How long can dried sourdough starter last?
What is the lifespan of dried starter? Does dried starter expire?
Good questions to ask and here is the truth:
Sourdough reserves that are properly dried and stored in airtight containers, kept in a cool, dry place can last indefinitely!
While it is suggested to use up the starter (or replace your sourdough reserves with a newer batch) within a year, it has been proven time and time again by homemakers and homesteaders through the years that sourdough reserves can be rehydrated and started again after many, many years in storage.
Sourdough reserves that have been stored for more than 10 weeks may require two feedings to get it active and bubbly again.
Check out how to feed your sourdough starter here.
While I do not yet have an e-commerce site for selling sourdough reserves, I do have a google form request link.
Can I use a dehydrator to dry sourdough reserves?
Perhaps you can use a dehydrator to accomplish this task in short order but I do not recommend it:
- I’ve never tried it so I have no true experience to share.
- I have heard that dehydrators do not get low enough in heat to dry without killing the starter. My dehydrator only gets as low as 145 degrees.
FREE SOURDOUGH RECIPES
These are some of my very favorite sourdough recipes:
Sourdough Discard Graham Crackers (These always receive high praise!)
Follow Along for More Sourdough Things
If you try drying starter for your own sourdough reserves safety net, come back and leave a comment or share a picture on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest so I can see it!
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