Rice bran (RB) was used as a substrate and carrier for Lactobacillus acidophilus. Systems were prepared with RB, cheese whey (CW) and water. They were inoculated according to the experimental design. The system that maximized cell growth and yield consisted of 1 g RB, 0.4 g CW, and 7.5 mL water. After sterilization, the system was inoculated, reaching 7×106 CFU/g, incubated, centrifuged, and vacuum-dried. The obtained powder was packaged in plastic bags and stored at 25°C. Cell counts were measured on MRS agar for 102 days, and gastric and intestinal digestion were simulated in vitro. The proposed process achieved a yield of ~0.75 g/g RB, with a count at the beginning of storage of 9.40 log CFU/g. Cell death was recorded during storage and presented a rate k≈0.064 day⁻¹. Nevertheless, viability was >7 log CFU/g over the 102 days of storage. When comparing Log count after in vitro digestion, values ranged from 63 to 78%, and 64 to 93% for gastric and intestinal conditions, respectively. Meanwhile free cells from fresh MRS broth presented 88.7% and 90.1%, gastric and intestinal resistance, respectively. It is concluded that RB is a suitable substrate and support for storing L. acidophilus at 25°C.