Frozen yeast

[evanvine]

I have no doubt in my mind that Alemans statement, "Freezing yeast severely downgrades it's viability", is unfaultable!
None the less, I grew a culture from Weston's "Old Rosie" and froze it 9.5 months ago.
This week I used it in a starter for my latest TC, it was fully active in less than 36 hours!
I don't suppose it makes a deal of difference whether it's frozen for a day or a year, any damage is in the freezing.
I now have about 25 different yeasts in my freezer, all home grown, I think it's worth the gamble!

Edit = spelling error!

 

[Moley]

I think it's worth the gambol!

:lol: Skippety skip :grin:

 

[evanvine]

:lol: Skippety skip :grin:

It was nearly 05:00!

 

[pjbiker]

I have no doubt in my mind that Alemans statement, "Freezing yeast severely downgrades it's viability", is unfaultable!
None the less, I grew a culture from Weston's "Old Rosie" and froze it 9.5 months ago.
This week I used it in a starter for my latest TC, it was fully active in less than 36 hours!
I don't suppose it makes a deal of difference whether it's frozen for a day or a year, any damage is in the freezing.
I now have about 25 different yeasts in my freezer, all home grown, I think it's worth the gamble!

Edit = spelling error!

Hurrah! what vessels/volumes do you freeze them in? I'm sick of paying >£2 packet of Nottingham when I've tons of it left in the bottom of each FV. Had a few issues with acetone type infections when I was saving stuff in the fridge for too long and abandoned the practice.
As an aside, when I used to freeze human neuroblastoma cells in liquid Nitrogen, I used to add a quantity of DMSO (Dimethyl Sulfoxide). This, I was told, somehow stabised the cell membranes and reduced their fracture by ice crystals.

 

[evanvine]

what vessels/volumes do you freeze them in?

I use the larger NHS plastic "sample" bottles, approx 70ml (have a friendly quack).

 

[Ceejay]

I take it you explained why you need all those sample bottles :shock:

 

[Tony]

I've heard that it's possible to protect the yeast cells using a mixture of water and glycerin, anyone else heard this and is it good practice? Anyone tried it?

:

 

[evanvine]

I take it you explained why you need all those sample bottles :shock:

:rofl: He is a very understanding man!