Yes, you can freeze Amish Bread Starter. However, you should be careful when freezing the starter because it may lose some of its activity. If you want to freeze the starter, you should put it in a freezer bag and then place it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Reviving Frozen Amish Friendship Bread Starter Recipe
If your frozen Amish Bread Starter has lost all or most of its activity, try reviving it by adding 1/2 cup warm water per quart of starter.
Stir well with a wooden spoon until combined.
Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature overnight.
The next day, stir again and refrigerate as directed above. You will need about half of this amount if you are using a bit of flour instead of dried.
How long does my Amish Friendship Bread Starter last?
Amish Friendship Bread Starter is best used within 6 months after opening.
It keeps indefinitely once opened but loses some of its flavor over time. To extend shelf life, store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Once opened, keep Amish Friendship Bread Starter in the refrigerator where it will stay fresh indefinitely.
However, we recommend storing it in the freezer so that you always have plenty available.
To thaw frozen starter, place it in warm water for approximately ten minutes. Then let sit uncovered at room temperature for 24 hours.
After that period has passed, stir the starter again and then proceed with preparing your favorite recipes.
Can I use other flours besides wheat flour?
You can substitute any type of flour that you like.
Other types of flour include: rye, spelt, oatmeal, cornmeal, buckwheat, millet, sorghum, teff, barley, brown rice, almond meal, coconut flour, tapioca starch, potato starch, arrowroot powder, chickpea flour, quinoa flour, etc.
Amish Friendship Bread Starter Recipe
Makes 8 loaves
- 1 package Amish Friendship Bread Starter*
- 3 cups lukewarm water
- ¾ cup molasses
- ½ cup shortening
- 4 eggs
- 6 cups unbleached white bread flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
Directions:
- Combine the first four ingredients in a medium saucepan.
- Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, 20 minutes or until thickened slightly. Cool completely.
- Prepare Amish Friendship Bread Starter recipe following instructions on the back of the box. When cool enough to handle, transfer to a large bowl.
- Add cooled liquid mixture and beaten egg yolks. Beat well.
- Sift remaining dry ingredients into the batter. Fold in quickly just until blended. Grease eight 9 x 5-inch loaf pans. Divide batter evenly among prepared pans.
- Bake at 350 degrees F 25–30 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 8 loaves of bread.
*Note: This product contains gluten If you have celiac disease or another serious allergy to gluten, please consult your physician prior to consuming this product.
Where do you store Amish Friendship bread starter?
The Amish Friendship Bread Starter should be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. The expiration date will vary depending upon storage conditions.
Store it away from direct sunlight as excessive exposure may cause deterioration. Do not refrigerate if using a frozen starter.
What are the benefits of making my own Amish Friendship Bread Starter?
Making your own Amish Friendship Bread Starter gives you complete control over what goes into your baked goods.
You know exactly what is going into them. It also saves money because there are no preservatives added to commercial starters.
And finally, when you use your own starter, you don’t need to worry about getting sick from eating something contaminated by someone else’s bacteria!
Furthermore, homemade starters give you much better results than those purchased commercially.
Commercial starters often contain too little yeast for proper fermentation. They usually require several days of incubation time before they start working properly.
Also, some commercial starters come pre-mixed which means that all the necessary nutrients needed for good growth are already present.
Homemade starters must be mixed up fresh each time you want to bake with them.
Can I bake Amish friendship bread on day 11?
Yes, but only after checking the temperature of the dough. You can check the temperature of the dough by inserting a thermometer through one end of the pan.
If the dough has risen above 165°F, then let it rise again. Otherwise, proceed with the recipe.
How long does it take to make Amish Friendship Bread
It takes approximately 2 hours to mix the dough, 1 hour to proof the dough, and 45 minutes to bake a loaf of bread. Can I substitute other flours for wheat flour in loaves of Friendship Bread
Absolutely yes! In fact, many people prefer to use whole grain rye flour instead of white flour.
Whole grains add more fiber and nutrition to the finished product. Whole-grain rye flour adds extra flavor and texture to the final product.
I would recommend substituting half of the amount of regular flour called for in the original recipe with whole grain rye flour.