Steps for freezing yeast:.advice needed

[rich1985]

hi all,

Just wanted to rurun through the steps for my plan to store yeast. Could you please let me like if there's anything I've missed!

1. I've already overbuilt the starter.
2. I will decant the Wort and then pour the yeast in to my batch that I'm making today (about two thirds of what I've made).
3. Put the rest back in the fridge for the yeast to settle at the bottom again.
4. Once settled, decant the wort again and put the yeast in a centrifuge tube along with one part glycerol and one part water .
5. Put this in the freezer with an ice pack in a cool bag.

Other questions, if the left over yeast is more than fits in one centrifuge tube, shall I split across two?

Thanks so much!

 

[MyQul]

I've never frozen yeast (using glycerol) but I do keep yeast in the fridge in centrifuge tubes. So for you last question, yes, split it across two (or more if necessary)

 

[Zephyr259]

Your process seems good, ideally you should boil the glycerol-water mix to sterilise. I have 2 tubes of kveik "on ice" from when I sent folks some samples. From memory I filled the tubes with slurry then added about a third of neat glycerol from a new bottle, they haven't frozen which is good but even if they had done that doesn't mean the yeast is dead, just depends on the glycerol concentration.

Time will tell if my yeast survives but I didn't have plans to use it for a long while so thought I'd try freezing.

Good luck.

 

[rich1985]

They're in the freezer now. Won't be using them for a while as its not something I brew often. I guess I'll know if it works when I build a starter from it. Going to keep practising as it costs very little and if it works will save alot!