Sourdough Starter Discard Recipes is the next thing that we liked to have knowledge of after learning how to make the Sourdough Bread. Or you are someone who receives the discards from a friend who made a lot of discards and you liked to try to make use of it as you are also fond of baking.
As we all know, Sourdough bread has become more popular as we learned about its health benefits which are far better than the other regular bread.
For a recipe of Sourdough bread, surely you could pile up a container or two of the sourdough starter discards depending on how many days it will take to finally make a healthy, active starter for your sourdough bread.
Learn more about how to make Sourdough Bread and its Health Benefits, as well as the Sourdough starter here.
Is there a way to minimize discards?
Starter discards are those starters that were left behind and not fed completely. Unless you are planning to make more sourdough bread in the future, you can store the remaining starter to use for later on.
Although the starter can stay outside for a couple more days without feeding, some hooch or a layer of liquid will develop on top. Fermentation will also continue and will become too sour that may affect the taste of the recipe that you will use it in. That is why you should know how to store it until it’s time to use the starter again.
Here are ways to store them and keep the starter alive. In this way, sourdough discards can be minimized.
- Refrigerate it up to a few months but regularly feed it once a week. When it’s time to use the starter:
- Remove from the refrigerator. Get 4 oz (120 g or ½ C) starter and discard the rest (or store). Note that the best way to measure it is by using a weighing scale. Otherwise, you can use your way of measurement.
- Feed as usual just like how you did it when you made your starter. Repeat as necessary until it almost doubled in volume in 6 to 8 hours.
- Sourdough starter and sourdough discards can be stored in the freezer for up to one year. A good way to do it is to put it in several containers or plastic bags, cover, and freeze up. To bring it back to life:
- Get one and thaw it. As you thaw it, the starter needs to be fed again just like when you make the starter. You should get it back in an active form just like before you froze it.
- Get 4 oz (120 g or ½ C) starter.
- Add water 4 oz (120 g or ½ C) and mix. Add flour 4 oz (120 g or 1 C) and mix until incorporated. Cover but not tight or use plastic wrap or towel. Leave in a warm area for 24 hours. Tip: You can place it in your oven with the lights on.
- Follow the steps in feeding the starter. It may take 5 or 6 days and maybe longer depending on the temperature of your area.
- When the starter became active and stable, then it is ready to use.
- Check on how to make a starter here.
- Dehydration is another way to store the starter. Feed the starter one last time. Get a sheet tray lined with parchment paper. Spread the starter in a thin layer evenly on the paper and set aside to dry completely at room temperature. Depending on the kitchen’s temperature, it may take 3-5 days.
When dried completely, break the mixture in small pieces and store in an airtight container, preferably glass. Keep in a cool dark place (not in the refrigerator). To rehydrate: Note that a weighing scale is highly recommended to measure the ingredients.
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- Measure the flakes. 1 ounce or 28.4 grams or roughly ¼ – ⅓ cup.
- Place in a container.
- Measure warm water: 2 ounces or 59 grams or ¼ cup
- Pour over the chips. Stir occasionally. It will take about 3 hours to dissolve the chips.
- When the mixture is almost smooth ( it’s alright if there are a few undissolved chips), feed with all-purpose flour – 1 ounce or 28.4 grams or roughly ¼ cup. Cover with cloth and place in a warm area of your kitchen (75 – 85°F). Remember that the process may take longer if the temperature of your area is lower.
- Leave for 24 hours.
- Without discarding, feed again with lukewarm water (1 oz/28.4 g/ 1/8 C) and flour (1 ounce/28.4 gram/ ¼ cup). Leave in a warm place for 12 hours or until the starter is bubbly and it has risen and fallen (remember when you make your starter?).
- Repeat the process with the same amount of water and flour, and not discarding anything.
- At this point, the starter is ready to have its regular feeding. Get 4 oz (120g or ½ C) of starter (the rest is discarded, but you can save it for future or other uses). Add 4 oz water (120 g or ½ C) and 4 oz flour (120 g or 1 C).
- In 4-6 hours, the starter had expanded already (again depending on the temperature of the area). Your Sourdough starter is ready to use!
Are there other ways besides storing them?
When you have enough sourdough starters and discards stored and still don’t want to throw away the excess or feel bad about throwing them away, below are more tips on how you can minimize discards.
- If you don’t like filling your countertop or your fridge with the starter and discards, give the sourdough starter to your friends. You can also post it on your social media that you have extra starters to give away.
- Are you a gardener? Surely you know about composting. Discards have good bacteria and therefore, an excellent add ons to your compost heap. Not a gardener at all? Then, give it away to someone who is.
- Sourdough starters are great for the skin, too. A probiotic, Lactic Acid Bacteria (good bacteria), present in the starter, known to have anti-inflammatory, and other therapeutic properties made this possible. Thus, it can treat some skin blemishes like acne, or helps in anti-aging.
- Use this as a face mask, alone or add in a mixture of honey and natural yogurt.
- Another best way is to use it with other recipes. You will be surprised that there are a lot of Sourdough Starter Discard Recipes that you can try.
Now that you have a steady supply of starter and discards, it’s time for you to learn recipes using them. Let’s start!
Here are easy 20 Sourdough Starter Discards Recipes that you can try:
Great way to start your day with this delicious and fluffy Sourdough Pancakes. Once your sourdough starter is ready, cooking pancakes will only take a few minutes to finish a bowl of batter. Other ingredients are All-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, some sugar or your sw3eetener of choice, some salt, milk, an egg, and some oil of your choice.
Get the full recipe here.
You will enjoy your breakfast, too, with this Sourdough Waffle. It is tasty and an easy way to use your sourdough starter discards. Your other ingredients are all-purpose flour, buttermilk, some sugar, melted butter, eggs, and baking soda. You can also add cinnamon and vanilla as options for added flavor. Note that you will start preparing this recipe a night before.
Get the full recipe here.
Whoever will miss this easy Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies? Especially that this one is made tastier and healthier with the use of Sourdough Discards. Besides the starter, you will need some unsalted butter, sugar, egg, vanilla extract, all-purpose flour, kosher salt, baking soda, and of course some chocolate chips.
Get the full recipe here.
Another one that makes it to the list of Sourdough Starter Discard Recipes is this Sourdough Crackers with Olive Oil and Herbs. You’ll love this as you use sourdough starter the most here. You will need 1 cup mature starter, all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, rye flour, extra virgin olive oil, dried herbs, fine sea salt, and Maldon flake salt for topping.
Get the full recipe here.
Coffee is for coffee cake. Now, this Sourdough Coffee Cake is even tastier with all those crumbles and cinnamon. Besides sourdough starter discards, you will also need some butter all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, brown and granulated sugar or your sweetener of choice, eggs, vanilla extract, chopped pecans, sour cream, fine sea salt, and some buttercream.
Get the full recipe here.
This delectable Lemon Sourdough Cake is also very easy to prepare and deserved to be added to your list in Sourdough Starter Discard Recipes. The ingredients are, of course, your sourdough starter discards, your choice of milk and sweetener, oil, eggs, vanilla, lemon juice and zest, flour, baking soda, and some salt.
Get the full recipe here.
Muffins are delicious with blueberries. So, this appetizing Blueberry Sourdough Muffins can’t be missed as well. Besides sourdough starter and blueberries, you will need unbleached all-purpose flour, yellow cornmeal, baking soda, cinnamon powder, milk, egg, butter, oil, your choice of maple syrup, honey or molasses and some demerara sugar.
Get the full recipe here.
This Cheese and Bacon Sourdough Discard Popovers are perfect for lunch or a snack. Another ideal and easy way to use your discards. The ingredients besides the sourdough starter discards are some eggs, all-purpose flour, milk diced bacon, grated cheese, and drained can of corn.
Get the full recipe here.
When you are into tacos and wraps, sourdough discards are still in to make your Sourdough Tortillas. And beside wraps, you can even turn the leftover tortillas into chips! Amazing, isn’t it!. Here are what you need: Sourdough starter discards, all-purpose flour, warm water, some salt, oil, and baking powder.
Get the full recipe here.
Who doesn’t like pizza? But pizza is not pizza without the crust. So get your Sourdough discards out and make this Sourdough Pizza Crust, and put any kind of toppings you like on it. You will only need your sourdough starter, then some flour, salt, and olive oil.
Get the full recipe here.
Do you still have a lot of sourdough starter left and you are longing for that pizza flavor? Try this Vegan Sourdough Pizza Cracker. You can make a lot of it with your discards, and yes it’s Vegan. Besides sourdough starter, you also need flour, olive oil, some salt, garlic powder, chili flakes, dried thyme, dried oregano, dried basil chopped fresh chives, and salsa to serve.
Get the full recipe here.
Here is something that you don’t need baking but you can use up your sourdough starters. These Sourdough Onion Rings are so simple and easy to make, yet very tasty and crunchy. With your discards, you will also need onions of your choice, all-purpose flour, some salt, garlic powder, black pepper, paprika, cayenne pepper, and oil for frying.
Get the full recipe here.
Have the Fish and Chips too with this Sourdough Fish Batter. So crispy, juicy, and easy to make. Get your sourdough starter discards along with some baking powder, some salt, turmeric, paprika, black pepper, fish fillet of your choice, and oil for frying.
Get the full recipe here.
You’ll never go wrong with this Sourdough Hotdog Buns. It is easy and you can even make a burger bun if you prefer with this recipe. Beside the sourdough starter, bring out your flour, some warm milk, granulated sugar, some yeast, butter, and salt.
Get the full recipe here.
These Vegan Oil-Free Sourdough English Muffins are perfect for vegans and vegetarians. Try it out! You’ll to prepare your sourdough starter, coconut sugar or your sweetener of choice, some warm water, winter squash puree, coconut powder dry yeast, whole wheat pastry flour, and all-purpose flour.
Get the full recipe here.
Soft on the inside and sticky on the outside. This Sourdough Maple Sticky Bun is another great way to use up your discards. Perfect for your coffee break, too. Here, you will need your Sourdough starter discard, dried yeast, warm water, sugar, all-purpose flour, some salt, baking soda, melted coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla extract
Get the full recipe here.
Surely, Sourdough Banana Bread is included in the list of Sourdough Starter Discard Recipes. This delicious and moist bread has an enhanced flavor that you will love. besides Sourdough starter, you’ll need the mashed bananas, of course, flour, shortening, some sugar your your choice of sweetener, an egg, some salt, and baking soda.
Get the full recipe here.
Not only banana, but also zucchini bread. This Sourdough Zucchini Bread is tasty, soft, and healthy too with more fiber as well. Bring out your Sourdough discards and some zucchinis with all-purpose flour, some salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, eggs, vegetable oil, some sugar, and vanilla extract.
Get the full recipe here.
Another one to love among the Sourdough Starter Discard Recipes is this Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Sugar Cake Donuts. So flavorful, appetizing, and soft. Besides your sourdough starter discards, you will need some all-purpose flour, sugar, cinnamon powder, softened butter, eggs, milk, vanilla, baking powder, some salt, and coconut oil for frying.
Get the full recipe here.
Try making your own pretzel, too. Indeed, this Sourdough Pretzel is very easy to make. With your sourdough discards, bring in your bread flour, non-fat dry milk, some sugar, vegetable oil, warm water, some salt, and instant yeast.
Get the full recipe here.
Did you enjoy these Sourdough Starter Discard Recipes? Which one have you tried? Don’t forget to Pin them in your Pinterest Board. Share them with your friends, too.
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