20 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 190,000 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 20 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.

2 Ingredient Sourdough Discard Crackers

With no rolling, no fuss and only 2 ingredients, one of which is 200g of sourdough discard, you can see why these 2 ingredient sourdough discard crackers should be at the top of your list!

2 Ingredient Sourdough Discard Crackers (No Roll Recipe)

Crispy 2 ingredient sourdough crackers you can whip up in a flash! No rolling and no fancy cutters! These sourdough crackers use minimal ingredients to create tasty sourdough crackers with no fuss.

Check out this recipe

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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 Scallion Pancakes

These quick and easy sourdough discard scallion pancakes use 200g of sourdough starter to create these crispy fried sourdough pancakes.

Quick Sourdough Discard Scallion Pancakes [with dipping sauce]

The easiest sourdough discard scallion pancakes you'll ever eat! They are full of flavor and make a wonderful snack when served with this chili-soy dipping sauce.

Check out this recipe

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Sourdough Meatballs

You might not have thought about adding sourdough discard to your next batch of meatballs, but this simple addition will give you the most tender, flavorsome meatballs ever! And it uses a whopping 200g of sourdough discard.

Sourdough Meatballs

These delicious sourdough meatballs use sourdough discard in place of breadcrumbs. You can fry them, bake them or add them to your favorite pasta sauce! Such a versatile and delicious way to create something savory with your sourdough discard.

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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Sourdough Gozleme

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Sourdough Gozleme [with spinach & feta filling]

Experience the delightful fusion of Turkish tradition and sourdough flair with our sourdough gozleme recipe. Thin, flaky dough envelops a savory filling of your choice, creating a crispy, golden-brown masterpiece that's perfect for any occasion.

Check out this recipe

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

FAQs

What to do with a lot of sourdough discard? ›

Easy sourdough discard recipes
  1. Sourdough breakfast buns. Make brilliant use of any left-over sourdough starter with these pillowy breakfast buns, filled with citrus fruit, thyme and a sticky brown sugar filling. ...
  2. Pepperoni pizza. ...
  3. Sourdough pancakes. ...
  4. Sourdough cookies. ...
  5. Sourdough discard tempura.

How much sourdough discard to use? ›

Weigh out how much discard you want to add to the recipe (no more than 200g). Divide the weight into 2. Subtract this amount of flour and water (or other liquid) from the recipe. Add the sourdough discard in place of these amounts of flour and water.

Can you use day 1 sourdough discard? ›

Remember, you can't use the discard from your homemade sourdough starter for the first 7 days. You can use sourdough discard in all kinds of sourdough discard recipes, including these no wait sourdough recipes, overnight sourdough discard recipes and sourdough discard recipes that use up a lot of discard.

Can you make more sourdough starter from discard? ›

Yes. Take a little bit of discard from your jar. Feed it as you would a sourdough starter. Continue this process for a couple of days until the starter is rising and falling predictably again.

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

I recommend keeping sourdough discard for up to one week.

If needed, mark the date on the container in your refrigerator. After one week, there is a higher chance of the discard growing bad bacteria or mold.

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.

Can you use 2 week old sourdough discard? ›

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.

What happens if you forgot to discard starter before feeding? ›

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.

Can I feed my sourdough starter without discarding? ›

If your recipe calls for more than 227g (about 1 cup) of starter, feed it without discarding until you've reached the amount you need (plus 113g to keep and feed again).

Can you refrigerate sourdough discard to use later? ›

Store your discard in a jar in the refrigerator where it will continue to ferment, albeit very slowly, whereas at room temperature, it will ferment quickly and you will soon have very ripe discard on your hands that won't be useful for much of anything. You can also store your discard in the freezer.

Can I freeze sourdough discard? ›

Can you freeze sourdough starter discard? While feeding an active starter is a better idea, freezing discard will also work. I would suggest freezing discard that has been more recently fed, it may take longer for the starter to become thriving and active after thawing.

Can you use cold sourdough discard? ›

If you're an experienced baker and are familiar with working with a cold sourdough starter that has been kept in the refrigerator for a long time and you've had success, then it's totally OK to use your starter straight from the refrigerator. You can utilize a cold starter in any sourdough discard recipe.

Do you feed discard in the fridge? ›

If you need your starter to take a nap or be babysat, just stick it in the fridge! I have kept my inactive starter or “discard” in the fridge for six months and brought her back to life in three feedings. Make sure you store it in a locking lid jar, that is essential!

Can discard become starter? ›

Can I use sourdough discard to make a new sourdough starter? Absolutely! You can take a portion of sourdough discard and add a few grams of flour and a few grams of water to create a healthy active sourdough starter. You may need to feed your revived starter a few more times before its ready to make bread.

How do I know if my sourdough discard is good? ›

You can store mature sourdough discard in the refrigerator indefinitely. As long as there is no mold, it is good to use.

What to do with day 4 sourdough discard? ›

What to do with sourdough discard? Don't throw it away! Instead, use it to make delicious and nutritious treats like pancakes, waffles, muffins, and bread. Sourdough discard is a great source of natural yeast and flavor, and can add a unique tangy taste to your baked goods.

Can you freeze sourdough discard to use later? ›

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? ›

This is a great soil conditioner! Sourdough is great for use in the compost heap, used dried and sprinkled onto soil, or diluted and poured around crops in the garden. The very same beneficial bacteria that benefits our gut benefits the garden too.

Why do you throw away sourdough discard? ›

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.

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