15 Sourdough Recipes That Use LOTS of Discard [empty your discard jar!] (2024)

A question I get asked all the time is "what's the best recipe to use up a LOT of sourdough discard?". So I decided to put a collection of recipes together that use at least 150 to 200g of sourdough discard in one go! This is sure to empty your discard jar!

This question gets asked so often in my Facebook Group of over 140,000 sourdough bakers - in fact, sourdough discard recipes are the most popular recipes shared in the group.

The sourdough discard recipes that use the most sourdough discard are sourdough discard waffles, muffins, crackers, pie crust and pizza dough.

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What You Need To Know About Sourdough Discard

Seeing as we are talking about sourdough discard, I've put together some facts that you need to know when dealing with discard!

  • Sourdough discard refers to the unfed portion of sourdough starter that is removed from the jar prior to feeding your starter. If you want the low down on all the sourdough terminology, this sourdough glossary is a great resource. This in depth post on sourdough discard vs sourdough starter is also helpful.
  • Do not use your sourdough discard for the first 7 days when establishing a sourdough starter. The discard you remove from the jar needs to be tossed prior to 7 days.
  • You can add discard from different days to the same jar.
  • Sourdough discard does not last indefinitely. It's a good idea to use up your discard within 2 weeks, otherwise it becomes sour and unpleasant tasting. You can read more about storing sourdough discard here.
  • Discarding is essential to creating a thriving sourdough starter because it ensures that you are not starving the yeast and bacteria in your jar. You can read more about why you must discard some of your sourdough starter here.
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Sourdough Recipes That Use LOTS of Discard

Here, I've listed 15 of my favorite recipes that will empty your discard jar in one go! Make sure you tell me your favorite sourdough discard recipe that uses lots of discard in the comments at the end of this post.

No Wait Sourdough Waffles

Sourdough waffles use a huge 200g of sourdough discard, and probably even better than that, is that they are so fast to make! You'll have breakfast on the table in no time! You might also like these sourdough chocolate waffles or sourdough cheese waffles that also use the same amount of discard.

Sourdough Discard Waffles Recipe

No wait sourdough discard waffles are so simple to mix together! You'll be eating waffles in under 10 minutes with no compromise on that sourdough flavor you love!

Check out this recipe

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Sourdough Discard Pancakes

This recipe is one of the most popular on The Pantry Mama website. Using 200g of sourdough discard, these fluffy sourdough discard pancakes will not disappoint!

Sourdough Discard Pancakes

The fluffiest pancakes you'll ever eat, made with your sourdough discard. Create a waste free sourdough routine by making these pancakes with your discard.

Check out this recipe

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Sourdough Dutch Baby Pancake

This simple sourdough Dutch Baby pancake uses a big 200g of sourdough starter and is so quick and easy, you'll wonder why you didn't discover it sooner!

Sourdough Dutch Baby (German Skillet Pancake)

Indulge in a delightful twist on the classic German pancake with this Sourdough Dutch Baby. This fluffy, oven-baked pancake boasts tangy sourdough flavor, perfect for a cozy breakfast or brunch treat.

Check out this recipe

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Sourdough Discard English Muffins

These sourdough English muffins use a huge 250g of sourdough discard which should definitely empty out that jar! They also freeze really well so they are a fantastic no waste solution to using your discard and then freezing for breakfasts during the week.

Sourdough English Muffins

Delicious sourdough English Muffins are a breakfast staple. This overnight recipe is so easy, even the kids can do it!

Check out this recipe

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Sourdough Discard Pizza

Hands up if you love pizza? This pizza dough uses a big 200g of sourdough discard and is perfect for all kinds of pizza! It's a regular thing in my house, especially since we installed a wood fired pizza oven.

Sourdough Discard Pizza Dough

A quick and easy sourdough discard pizza dough that you can make anytime!

Check out this recipe

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Sourdough Discard Crackers

Crackers are such a wonderful way to empty your sourdough discard jar. Most cracker recipes will use at least 200g of sourdough discard and can be made well in advance. I love making different types of sourdough crackers to suit different charcuterie boards and cheese platters - or just as a delicious snack!

Sourdough Discard Crackers with Rosemary + Parmesan Cheese

These simple sourdough crackers use a lot of discard - and taste amazing! They are the perfect accompaniment to a cheese platter or a quick snack on the go.

Check out this recipe

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Sourdough Crumpets

Sourdough crumpets are so easy! Just 3 main ingredients come together to create these English tea time favorites! And the best thing is that these sourdough crumpets use 200g of sourdough discard.

Sourdough Crumpets

Indulge in the delightful simplicity of homemade sourdough crumpets with this easy recipe. The tangy notes from the sourdough starter elevate these golden, fluffy crumpets, making each bite a perfect balance of airy texture and rich, fermented flavor.

Check out this recipe

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Sourdough Chocolate Chip Scones

Deliciously tender sourdough chocolate chips cones use up 150g of sourdough discard, which will make a nice dent in your jar and help you stay on top of it all.

Sourdough Chocolate Chip Scones

These buttery sweet scones are made with 150g of sourdough discard and lots of chocolate chips! They are perfect as a breakfast treat or with a coffee shared with friends.

Check out this recipe

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Sourdough Apple Cinnamon Muffins

These easy sourdough apple and cinnamon muffins are truly delicious and use up 200f of sourdough discard. Perfect for easy snacks or even a warming breakfast.

Sourdough Apple Cinnamon Muffins

These simple to make sourdough apple cinnamon muffins make a delicious snack any time of the day. Delicious crisp exterior and tender crumb are the secret to these successful muffins.

Check out this recipe

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Sourdough Granola

Sourdough Granola is such an easy way to use up a tonne of discard. I love making a big batch, so I use 4 x the recipe listed below which uses up 200g of sourdough discard in one go!

Plus, sourdough granola lasts a long time, so it's a great way to prolong the life of your sourdough discard. A bit like drying your sourdough discard, but much tastier!

Sourdough Granola

This easy recipe for sourdough granola can easily be tailored to suit your taste preferences and ingredients you have on hand.

Check out this recipe

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Sourdough Banana Muffins

Not only do these sourdough discard banana muffins use 200g of sourdough discard, they're also a great way to use up those brown bananas!

Sourdough Banana Muffins

Perfect in their simplicity, these easy to make banana sourdough muffins will be a family favorite. Want to mix things up? Why not try one of the 20 flavor additions suggested.

Check out this recipe

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Sourdough Banana Fritters

Decadent sourdough banana fritters are an unusual way to use up your sourdough discard. They are definitely classed as "sourdough comfort food" and make an indulgent dessert served with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce!

Sourdough Banana Fritters

Crispy fried sourdough banana fritters made from either fed sourdough starter or discard. You can eat them plain or serve with ice cream and chocolate sauce for the ultimate comfort dessert!

Check out this recipe

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Sourdough Batter

What better way to use up your sourdough discard than battering some fish or chicken, or even veggies? The recipe shows only using 50g of discard, but you'll need up to 200g or more if you are making a family sized batch of chicken or fish.

Sourdough Batter [for fish, chicken & vegetables]

Use sourdough discard to lightly batter fish, chicken, meat or vegetables. The perfect way to use up extra sourdough starter and create a tasty meal or snack with zero waste!

Check out this recipe

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Sourdough Popovers

You might know these tasty treats as Yorkshire Puddings, but sourdough popovers are a quick and easy way to empty your sourdough discard jar.

Sourdough Popovers Recipe

These quick and easy sourdough popovers can be made using sourdough discard or active starter. They are a hearty, warm snack served with butter or can be used as side dish alongside roast meats, casseroles and soups.

Check out this recipe

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Sourdough Cornbread

These sourdough cornbread muffins make a fun side dish for almost any food! Using 200g of sourdough discard, they make a quick and easy bread alternative in a bind.

Sourdough Cornbread Muffins

Simple sourdough cornbread muffins that can be eaten plain with a pat of butter or a drizzle of maple syrup or served as a hearty side to your favorite comfort food.

Check out this recipe

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And if you'd prefer to make your sourdough cornbread in a cast-iron skillet, then check out this version of sourdough skillet cornbread.

Sourdough Carrot Cake

This deliciously moist sourdough carrot cake uses 200g of sourdough discard, which is sure to make a dent in your discard jar! It's well worth making, whether it's for a special occasion or a "just because" dessert!

Sourdough Carrot Cake

Delightfully moist carrot cake made using sourdough starter. It makes a gorgeous centrepiece for your next brunch or afternoon tea, as well as a stunning dessert. You can ferment the batter overnight or bake straight away depending on your timeline.

Check out this recipe

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Sourdough Pie Crust

What could be better than a tender, flaky sourdough pie crust? Well it's even better when you know that this sourdough pie crust will use 200g of sourdough discard! You might even like to try it with this sourdough apple pie or sourdough chicken pot pie. This sourdough pumpkin pie will use even more sourdough starter as it uses sourdough starter in both the crust and the filling.

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Sourdough Pie Crust Recipe

A tender, flaky sourdough pie crust that can be used for sweet or savory pies. You can use it for a top or bottom crust, or both! Ferment this pie crust for up to 48 hours for an even more tender and flavorful crust!

Check out this recipe

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15 Sourdough Recipes That Use LOTS of Discard [empty your discard jar!] (2024)

FAQs

What exactly is sourdough discard? ›

Both active sourdough starter and sourdough discard is a mixture of flour and water that has been fermented. Sourdough discard is any portion of the sourdough starter that is not used to make bread or to sustain your mother starter.

Is sourdough discard bad for you? ›

The acidity of the sourdough discard helps prevent tough gluten strands from forming. This results in tender and moist baked goods! When discard is coupled with a long ferment, it can aid in digestion and help the nutrients to be more bioavailable to our bodies.

Why do you have to discard so much sourdough starter? ›

If you don't get rid of the excess, eventually you'll have more starter than your feedings can sustain. After a few days, your daily 1/4 cup flour and water won't be enough to sustain your entire jar of starter, and your starter will be slow and sluggish, not much better than discard itself.

How long can you keep sourdough discard before it goes bad? ›

You can use old sourdough discard if it's been stored in the fridge, however, you really want to use it up within a week - 2 weeks max. It's better to use "fresh" discard in a sweet sourdough discard recipe. Use older discards in more savory recipes.

Can I put all my sourdough discard together? ›

Can you add sourdough discards together in the same jar? 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.

What is the difference between sourdough bread and sourdough discard bread? ›

Sourdough discard is the unfed portion of your sourdough starter that you remove before you add fresh flour and water. Because of it's unfed state, it's not used to bake the delicious bread you know as sourdough, but more often than not, used in sourdough discard recipes.

Can you eat raw sourdough discard? ›

While some people claim to have healed their gut problems by eating probiotic rich sourdough starter, it's not really advisable. Raw sourdough starter contains uncooked flour which can harbor harmful bacteria among other things. You can read more about why you shouldn't eat raw flour here.

Is discard the same as starter? ›

Sourdough discard is excess levain or sourdough starter that is not used in a recipe or for maintaining the starter. Only a small portion of the sourdough starter is reserved and fed during each feeding, the rest is referred to as discard, since typically it is thrown away.

Can you refrigerate sourdough discard to use later? ›

Store it for future baking: You can store sourdough discard in an airtight container in the refrigerator for future baking with sourdough discard recipes. When you're ready to use it, let the discard come to room temperature before using it to bake. I will keep sourdough discard in the fridge for about one week.

Can I leave sourdough discard out overnight? ›

I left my sourdough discard out at room temperature for a few days. Is it okay? 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.

Why is my sourdough discard so sour? ›

Now, if you don't regularly add and remove discard from your jar—if it just sits there in the refrigerator without any additional food for many weeks—it will become extremely sour and difficult to work with.

Does sourdough discard have nutritional value? ›

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.

Can you freeze sourdough discard? ›

Can you freeze sourdough discard? Technically, yes. But for the best results, you are better off freezing an active and healthy sourdough starter. Because some of the yeast dies when frozen, you want the starter to have as much healthy yeast as possible prior to freezing.

What should sourdough starter smell like? ›

A healthy, well-fed sourdough starter typically has a pleasant, slightly sour smell. This aroma is often compared to yogurt or buttermilk, indicating a good balance of yeast and lactic acid bacteria. It's the smell of fermentation in full swing, a sign that your starter is ready to leaven a loaf of bread.

Can I freeze sourdough discard? ›

Can you freeze sourdough discard? Technically, yes. But for the best results, you are better off freezing an active and healthy sourdough starter. Because some of the yeast dies when frozen, you want the starter to have as much healthy yeast as possible prior to freezing.

Is sourdough discard good for plants? ›

You can use sourdough discard in your garden in the following ways: Use diluted sourdough discard as a liquid nutrient boost. Use dried sourdough starter as a soil conditioner. Add it to your backyard compost pile.

Can you use sourdough starter after it falls? ›

Past-Peak and Falling: If your starter/leaven is past-peak and is beginning to fall in height, it is beyond the optimal point to use it for baking, but it will still work. The only thing to consider is that once a starter peaks, it starts to become more acidic as it falls.

What is the difference between sourdough starter and discard? ›

Only a small portion of the sourdough starter is reserved and fed during each feeding, the rest is referred to as discard, since typically it is thrown away. In efforts to reduce waste, discard is often collected from multiple feedings and stored in the fridge until enough is allotted to be used for discard recipes.

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