GENERAL DISCUSSION

To preserve a starter when you won’t be using it right away, the best method is to dry it out or freeze it. Drying involves spreading the starter thin on a baking sheet, letting it dry completely, then breaking it into pieces and storing it in an airtight container. Freezing is another option—place the starter in a freezer-safe container and freeze it for later use. However, vacuum sealing a starter might not be the best idea, as the washingtoncitypaper vacuum could damage the live yeast and bacteria that make the starter effective. For long-term storage, drying or freezing without vacuum sealing works best.