60+ Zero Waste Sourdough Starter Discard Recipes (2024)

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Save this post for over 60 sourdough starter discard recipes to use up all your leftover sourdough baking ‘waste’! Never throw out your precious sourdough discard again!

Searching for new sourdough starter discard recipes to use up leftover starter? You’ve made it to the right page!

We have a complete list of everything from savory (pretzels and pizza crust) to sweet (cinnamon rolls and crumb cake), and everything in between.

Did you know leftover sourdough starter discard can also be used as thickening agents for sauces and soups? You can find more similar creative tips later in the post.

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Six reasons you should never throw away sourdough starter discard!

60+ Zero Waste Sourdough Starter Discard Recipes (1)

Sourdough baking can unfortunately create a lot of waste. Feeding sourdough starter requires discarding most of the starter and then ‘re-feeding’ it with more flour and water. Re-feeding encourages more yeast and healthy bacteria growth, so that the starter expands in preparation for baking.

It’s especially wasteful when you’re building sourdough starter from scratch, which could mean weeks of feeding and discarding.

The only problem: heaps of leftover sourdough discard! And if you bake often, that’s a lot of waste! It may seem inconvenient or too time consuming to save the discard, but it’s worth it.

Here are six reasons you should NEVER throw away sourdough starter discard:

  1. Save more food waste from the landfill by reusing your sourdough discard. Nearly 40% of the nation’s food supply already goes to landfills. More food in landfills = more harmful greenhouse gases emitted.
  2. It saves money! Flour is a hot commodity these days! Sourdough discard helps extend your flour supply. Use less flour and oil when using discard in recipes.
  3. Sourdough discard contains vitamins, nutrients and probiotics that are beneficial for gut health and digestion.
  4. Use leftover sourdough starter discard in one of these 100+ recipes! It’s the ultimate food waste hack!
  5. You don’t have to use it immediately. Discard can be stored in the fridge or freezer for later use.
  6. As a last resort, compost it! The extra bacteria can help speed up the decomposition process in compost bins.

How to properly store sourdough starter discard for later use (in recipes)

60+ Zero Waste Sourdough Starter Discard Recipes (2)

Luckily, discard doesn’t need to be used right away. Plus, it can take several rounds of feeding and discarding to get enough to use in other recipes. Most recipes use approximately one cup at at time.

Save unfed sourdough starter discard for later with one of these methods:

Refrigerator

Sourdough starter can last a surprisingly long time stored in the fridge. We’ve don’t bake terribly often, and have left our starter in the fridge for up to a month before starting the refeeding process. However, leftover and refrigerated unfed sourdough starter discard should be used up within about one week.

Tips for Leftover Sourdough Discard Fridge Storage

  • Store up to 2 weeks in airtight container.
  • Don’t use if moldy or a pink/orange discoloration of hooch appears (this means bad bacteria has taken over).
  • No need to refeed before using in other recipes.

If hooch (the liquid that collects on the starter’s surface after several days or weeks of no refeeding) develops on the surface of the discard, you know your discard is aging.

It may still be okay to use, but the flavor can become altered. Recipes made with older discard will have a noticeably tangy or sour taste.

How to Know When Refrigerated Sourdough Discard is Past Its Prime

Sourdough starter or hooch that develops fuzzy mold or pinkish/orange colored liquid or streaks should be thrown out. According to the King Arthur baking website, this is a sure sign that bad bacteria has overtaken the healthy bacteria, making it unsafe to consume.

Freezer

Sourdough discard that you don’t intend to use within a week should be stored in the freezer. Frozen discard can last in the freezer for one year.

Tips for Storing Leftover Sourdough Discard in the Freezer

  • Portion out discard into one cup servings and store in a freezer safe container OR freeze an entire batch in an air-tight container.
  • Store frozen leftover discard up to a year.
  • When ready to use, simply remove from the freezer and allow to thaw for a few days in the fridge.
  • No need to refeed! Just add it as directed to one of these 100+ recipes!

There’s some debate on whether freezing kills off all the beneficial bacteria that yeast feeds on, or if it just allows them to hibernate. Either way, if you’re just using leftover discard in one of these recipes, freezing it is perfectly fine.

If you attempt to revive the discard for sourdough bread baking, you may run into some issues.

Pantry

Lastly, discard may be dehydrated for long term pantry storage. Dried sourdough starter discard can be revived for bread baking or recipe use later. Additionally, it can be ground up and used as batter or bread crumb coating for certain recipes.

Tips for Dehydrating Sourdough Discard for Pantry Storage

  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread recently discarded sourdough starter thinly onto parchment.
  • Allow the starter to dry out completely until brittle. This may take 24-72 hours depending on location.
  • Break dried discard into pieces and store in an air-tight container in the pantry for extended storage.
  • Process into a crumb mixture for use as a breading or crunchy topping, or revive it for bread baking.

Unconventional Ways to Use Sourdough Starter Discard (no recipe needed)

There are tons of recipes for leftover sourdough starter discard. As an alternative, here a few creative ways to use up all that discard (no recipe needed).

  • batter for frying veggies or fish (onion rings, anyone?)
  • sauce thickener (works with cheese, gravy, or plain white/Bechemel sauces)
  • soup thickener (instead of flour or cornstarch)
  • crunchy topping for salads, stir fry, or desserts (dehydrated sourdough starter)

60+ Zero Waste Recipes for Sourdough Starter Discard

The options are endless when it comes to cooking and baking with sourdough starter discard. Reference this of extensive list of over 60 recipes to reduce your sourdough baking waste!

Are you gluten sensitive? Check out this section of gluten free sourdough starter discard recipes.

Sweet Sourdough Starter Discard Recipes

  • 60+ Zero Waste Sourdough Starter Discard Recipes (3)
  • 60+ Zero Waste Sourdough Starter Discard Recipes (4)
  • 60+ Zero Waste Sourdough Starter Discard Recipes (5)

There’s no shortage of sweet breakfast and dessert recipes using sourdough starter discard.

Breakfast/Brunch

Desserts

Savory Sourdough Starter Discard Recipes

  • 60+ Zero Waste Sourdough Starter Discard Recipes (6)
  • 60+ Zero Waste Sourdough Starter Discard Recipes (7)
  • 60+ Zero Waste Sourdough Starter Discard Recipes (8)

Bread Variations

Crackers

Gluten Free Sourdough Starter Discard Recipes

Finally, one of my all time personal favorites from the No Waste Nutrition recipe archives! Spicy sourdough discard cheese crackers! See the full recipe below.

Print

Seriously Addicting Spicy Sourdough Discard Cheese Crackers

60+ Zero Waste Sourdough Starter Discard Recipes (9)

Print Recipe

Easy to throw together, but so hard to resist! These spicy, cheesy sourdough starter discard crackers are perfect for a snacking, dipping, or on a charcuterie board!

  • Author: Erin Hendrickson, RDN
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: about 150 1″x1″ crackers 1x
  • Category: Sourdough Discard Recipes

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup all purpose or bread flour

1 cup unfed sourdough starter discard

1/4 cup melted, unsalted butter

8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)

1/4 cup Texas Pete hot sauce (optional)

Instructions

1. Mix flour, sourdough starter, cheese, melted butter, and hot sauce together.

2. Form into a smooth, cohesive ball of dough.

3. Split dough in half and shape into two rectangular pieces. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes to allow dough to harden.

4. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

5. Roll out each section of dough on a floured surface or parchment paper to about 1/16″ inches thick.

6. Transfer dough to a lightly oiled baking sheet. Cut sourdough crackers into equal portions using a pizza cutter.

7. Prick each square with a fork.

8. Bake for about 25 minutes until golden brown. Turn baking dish halfway to ensure all sides bake evenly.

9. Let cool before munching or transferring to an airtight container.

Notes

  • Two baking sheets are recommended to bake both sections of dough at once.
  • Crackers may be baked directly on baking sheet, on parchment paper, or silicone baking mat.
  • Store in an airtight container in the pantry for up to a week or 3 months in the freezer.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: about 10 crackers
  • Calories: 200
  • Sugar: 0
  • Sodium: 220 mg
  • Fat: 3 grams
  • Carbohydrates: 22 grams

Keywords: Sourdough Discard Cheese Crackers

  • 60+ Zero Waste Sourdough Starter Discard Recipes (10)
  • 60+ Zero Waste Sourdough Starter Discard Recipes (11)
60+ Zero Waste Sourdough Starter Discard Recipes (2024)

FAQs

When can I use sourdough starter discard in recipes? ›

Culinary-wise, sourdough discard can be used in various recipes such as pancakes, waffles, muffins, sourdough pasta and quick breads like sourdough banana bread to impart a tangy flavor, reduce food waste, and add complexity of flavor to your baked goods.

How much should I discard and feed my sourdough starter? ›

Experts recommend feeding a starter twice daily. And at each feeding, you hold onto 1/2 cup of your original starter, discard the rest, and then add its same weight in water and flour. With this schedule, you'd discard almost a cup of sourdough starter every day.

What can I use my sourdough discard for? ›

Sourdough discard works well in many baked goods that don't require lively yeast—flat foods like crackers, tortillas and pancakes. Or you can use it to flavor recipes that rely on leavening from other sources, such as active dry yeast, baking soda and baking powder.

What is a substitute for sourdough discard? ›

Instead of sourdough discard, substitute ripe/active/bubbly sourdough starter. Give a much longer time for the dough to ferment. Then shape and let rise in balls for about an hour before baking in the skillet.

Can I use sourdough discard straight from the fridge? ›

Yes you can use sourdough discard straight from the fridge, you don't need to let it come to room temperature if you don't want to. What is this? If you are using it straight from the fridge it may be a little stiff or thick, so you'll need to ensure you mix it really well.

Can I bake with my first sourdough discard? ›

You can always use this discard by directly mixing it into a dough for baking. Your discard, as long as it's in good shape, will leaven any bread dough just as well. The discard is just like a levain you would make for a recipe. The only difference is it's the same makeup as your starter.

How much should I feed my sourdough discard? ›

Room-temperature starter should be fed every 12 hours (twice a day) using the standard maintenance feeding procedure: discard all but 113g, and feed that 113g starter with 113g each water and flour.

Do you have to discard starter every time you feed it? ›

It would be best if you discarded some portion of your starter each time you feed it unless you want to continue to let it grow.

Do you stir sourdough starter when feeding? ›

In short, to “activate” each, you simply add flour and water, stir, and wait — that's all there is to feeding a sourdough starter.

How to tell if sourdough discard is bad? ›

You can store mature sourdough discard in the refrigerator indefinitely. As long as there is no mold, it is good to use. It may develop a grayish liquid on top called “hooch” which can be poured off before use or stirred in. If you stir it in, the flavor will become more sour.

Can I keep adding to my sourdough discard? ›

Yes you can add sourdough discards from different days together in the same jar. You just need to make sure you stir it well and you don't leave it sitting in the fridge for too long. Sourdough discard should be used within two weeks. You can read more about how to store sourdough discard in the fridge here.

What is the best container for sourdough discard? ›

Ideally, you should use a medium sized, clear glass jar with a lid that can be loosely rested or screwed on tight. At a glance, the best sourdough starter jar should be: Medium sized. Clear or transparent.

Is eating sourdough discard healthy? ›

Sourdough discard is rich in probiotics, which can help promote a healthy gut microbiome and improve digestion. It's also a good source of fiber, which can help regulate blood sugar levels, lower cholesterol, and promote feelings of fullness.

How long is sourdough discard good for in the fridge? ›

The discard could be sitting in the fridge for several days, up to 2 weeks, which is far too long without feeding in an environment that's too cold. The mixture is likely overly acidic and won't be properly balanced—in terms of bacteria and yeast populations—for leavening dough.

Can you use cold sourdough discard? ›

You can utilize a cold starter in any sourdough discard recipe. These recipes don't require a sourdough starter for leavening, so you can use your starter directly from the fridge. These recipes offer a fantastic solution for using excess sourdough.

How long can sourdough starter discard sit out? ›

As long as your kitchen isn't too warm (I'd say 78°F or higher) your starter/discard will be fine stored at room temperature for at least a few days without feeding. The flavor will get more acidic the longer it sits.

Can you use sourdough starter anytime? ›

You should wait at least 2-4 hours or until the starter is at its peak before you use it in your baking. Can you use sourdough starter after it falls? Yes you can use sourdough starter after it falls. It's best to use it at its peak when the yeast colony is at its greatest, but using it after it falls is also possible.

When can you bake with sourdough discard reddit? ›

I agree that you should wait until it has a good scent because if it doesn't it's probably not going to taste great, but once that consideration is accounted for, you can always throw discard into doughs with yeast, or make pancakes with it, throw it into muffins, etc.

Can you use sourdough discard cold? ›

Can I use my starter straight out of the fridge? It's possible - but you really shouldn't. While it might seem convenient to bake with a cold starter, for consistently delicious sourdough bread, it's better not to use your starter straight from the fridge.

References

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