Can Kombucha be frozen? - The Ultimate Guide

Kombucha, the healthiest fizzy drink with live bacteria and yeast, has gone viral in recent years. As with any drink, many people consider freezing their kombucha. But what happens to the probiotics in the kombucha when you freeze it?

Can kombucha be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze the kombucha. To ensure that the bacteria and yeast culture it contains are not killed, you need to freeze the kombucha using the proper freezing technique. Also, you should not freeze the kombucha for long periods of time. 

In this article, we’ll give you step-by-step instructions for freezing kombucha so that the risks of killing the live cultures within it are minimal. We will also tell you how to thaw kombucha correctly.

Should you freeze kombucha?

Kombucha is a fizzy drink made from tea. It is infused with healthy bacteria and yeast cultures. This sweet and sour drink is believed to promote stomach health and has gained a lot of popularity in recent years.

To keep the yeast culture alive, kombucha is typically stored at room temperature. But as long as it is alive, the drink will continue to develop and become more and more sour until it starts to taste like vinegar.

But what about storing kombucha in the freezer?

Although freezing kombucha is tricky, doing so is safe and can prevent the drink from spoiling in certain cases.

If you decide to freeze the kombucha, make sure you are aware of the risks of harming the healthy bacteria and yeast culture it contains.

Knowing how to freeze kombucha is also important if you want to have more confidence in the survival of the probiotics.

What you should know before freezing kombucha

Before you freeze kombucha, you should educate yourself on the ongoing debate about whether or not freezing kills the probiotics in kombucha.

While some people believe that freezing kills off the kombucha’s yeast culture, many others believe that this only occurs when the drink is slowly frozen.

This is why, when freezing kombucha, it is recommended to use the flash freezing method. 

With this “flash” freezing method, the probiotics have a better chance of surviving the freezing and thawing processes. 

Freezing causes the bacteria in the kombucha to become inactive or dormant. Therefore, it is an effective way to prevent cracking.

When you thaw the drink, they will come back to life and you will still get the health benefits of kombucha.

With that being said, freezing kombucha for long periods of time is not recommended.

How to freeze kombucha

As we’ve mentioned before, quick freezing is the method to use if you’ve decided to freeze your kombucha. Here are step-by-step instructions for freezing kombucha, both store-bought and homemade.

1. Find the right container for freezing . This is especially important when freezing homemade kombucha. It is best to freeze the drink in an airtight glass freezer container. You want to leave some space for the drink to expand. You can also use airtight plastic containers or bags. Avoid using metal containers, as they will react with the drink. As for unopened store-bought kombucha, freeze it in its original container.
2. Fill a bowl with ice.  She places the drink in the bowl and waits for it to cool.
3. Add salt to the water . Adding ¼ cup of salt to the water will instantly lower the temperature of the drink.
4. Label the drink with the date . To make sure you don’t keep your kombucha in the freezer for too long, label it with the freeze date.
5. Put the kombucha in the freezer. Make sure the freezer temperature is at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not shake the kombucha during the entire freezing process.

Note : When freezing kombucha, keep in mind that the freezing process does not guarantee the survival of the probiotics after the drink is thawed.

How long does kombucha last in the freezer?

The optimal time to keep kombucha in the freezer is 3 months.

Although the drink may still be safe to consume after that time, the bacteria and yeast cultures it contains may already be dead, and drinking it will have no health benefit.

How to thaw kombucha

When you decide to enjoy frozen kombucha, move it from the freezer to the fridge. Although the drink thaws faster at room temperature, you should never expose it to drastic changes in temperature. 

Be sure to drink the kombucha as soon as it thaws. Do not store thawed kombucha at room temperature. We also do not recommend that you refreeze the kombucha.