Sourdough starter needs regular discard in order to maintain a proper pH and to keep you from having a 50 gallon barrel full of the stuff. But it feels wasteful to throw it away every day.
Flour is pretty precious.
Instead, use your discarded (unfed) starter to add extra flavor to a variety of baked goods. If you don’t want to bake every day, just pour your discard into a container and stick it in the fridge until you’re ready. You can even freeze it for later.
Just remember: Discard does not rise and will not leaven any baked good. It’s for flavor only. Discard also does not break down the gluten, sugars or phytic acid in flour and is not suitable for the gluten intolerant.
[feast_advanced_jump_to]
Still learning sourdough bread? Take my class.
Breakfast Treats
Breakfast is a great time to add your sourdough discard! I love cake donuts and the recipe below is so tender and light. Try crispy waffles (and freeze them for warming up in the toaster) or super unique flaky biscuits.
Sourdough discard cinnamon sugar cake donuts
So tender they melt in your mouth. These sourdough discard cake donuts will be a special treat!
Raised Sourdough Donuts get their rise from natural leavening and are a great way to use your sourdough starter discard! They’re easy to make with a low-maintenance dough that comes together quickly.
If you’ve begun your own sourdough routine, you NEED this delectable sourdough oatmeal pancake recipe! They are super tender & fluffy, made with hearty nourishing oats and fermented overnight with sourdough starter.
These chocolate chip sourdough muffins are a delicious and nutritious way to start your day! They are quick, easy and full of oatmeal and whole wheat goodness yet they are soft and yummy. So good!
Tender, fluffy and lightly sweet with a hint of sourdough flavor, these waffles make for a tasty breakfast any day of the week. Bonus: You can make pancakes with the batter, too.
These soft and flaky American-style sourdough biscuits are the perfect easy side and a great way to use some sourdough discard! The discard adds a bit of tang and extra flavour while reducing kitchen waste – win win.
The last thing I had ever considered putting discard in was chocolate cake, but oh! It’s so moist. Make several pie crusts and freeze for later or use it right away in a rustic apple galette.
Sourdough Pie Crust
Sourdough Pie Crust, where have you been all my life? This pie crust is tender, flaky and tastes amazing. This just might become your go-to pie crust recipe.
Sourdough Bundt Cake with Buttermilk Glaze is a perfect snack cake. The tangy-sweet buttermilk glaze forms an ultra-thin coating. A little sourdough discard transforms an ordinary cake into an extraordinary treat.
This delicious Sourdough Blueberry Crumb Cake is a great way to use your sourdough discard! An irresistible coffee cake studded with blueberries and topped with cinnamon streusel.
Not everything needs to be sweet! Make a simple pasta with tangy tomato sauce, amazingly light popovers (add herbs and cheese!), and whip up a batch of crispy cornbread.
Homemade Sourdough Pasta
When you need a creative way to use sourdough discard, try making homemade sourdough pasta! The tangy noodles pair perfectly with a spicy, flavorful sauce.
Sourdough crescent rolls are soft, ever so slightly sweet with a nicely rounded sourdough flavor. They are the perfect accompaniment to your next dinner!
Sourdough naan is so easy its foolproof! Nothing is better than fresh off the griddle flatbread, and this naan recipe is exactly that! Delicious and flavorful naan is right around the corner with this great recipe!
