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Table Of Contents
- What is Sourdough Discard?
- What's the Difference Between Sourdough Starter, Discard, and Levain?
- How to Reduce Sourdough Discard
- How Do You Store Sourdough Discard?
- How Long Can You Store Sourdough Discard?
- What Can You Make with Sourdough Discard?
- What Does Sourdough Discard Taste Like?
- Can You Make Bread with Sourdough Discard?
- Can You Feed Discard to Make a Starter?
- Can Sourdough Discard be Composted?
- Sourdough Discard Recipes You May Enjoy:
Last Updated on February 14, 2023
The term “sourdough discard” is a bit of a misnomer. Discard implies waste or trash, while sourdough discard is anything but!
Sourdough discard is an incredibly versatile, useful, and delicious ingredient that can reimagine how you cook or bake with sourdough.
I use sourdough discard in a trove of sourdough discard recipes and keep a weekly stockpile of it in my refrigerator just for the purpose of baking with it. You can use it in savory or sweet applications.
This comprehensive guide on sourdough discard covers what sourdough discard is, how to store it, how to bake with it, and other frequently asked questions about this misunderstood ingredient.
🙋♂️ Have sourdough discard questions? Leave a question or comment!
What is Sourdough Discard?
Each time you feed your sourdough starter, you must remove some of it.
Why? Because a healthy sourdough starter will quickly outgrow its container and get too large! Soon enough, you’ll be overflowing with sourdough starter.
Sourdough discard is the portion of sourdough starter removed before refreshing or feeding your sourdough starter.
In other words, sourdough discard is an overripe sourdough starter often thrown away or tossed to control the starter’s size and acidity.
Some refer to sourdough discard as “sourdough surplus” because it doesn’t have to be wasted as the word “discard” implies.
What’s the Difference Between Sourdough Starter, Discard, and Levain?
The differences between sourdough starter, discard, and levain are subtle but important.
Sourdough starter is the mother culture. It is refreshed and fed regularly. The mother culture lasts indefinitely with routine care, and its main use is the leavening in a recipe.
Sourdough discard is an unfed, ripe portion of the mother culture. You remove the sourdough discard during feedings to maintain the size of your sourdough starter. Trash discard or store it to use as an acidic ingredient in unleavened recipes.
Finally, a levain (luh-VAHN) is an offshoot of the mother culture. Feed the levain separately from the sourdough starter and use 100% of it in a recipe.
I start most of my leavened recipes with a levain so I can feed my small starter on its same routine and build a separate larger culture for the recipe. Furthermore, you can feed the levain with other flours or ingredients without disrupting the balance of the mother culture.
How to Reduce Sourdough Discard
The amount of discard created from a starter varies. The quantity of discard depends on the size of the starter and how you regularly feed your starter. I always recommend a regular feeding schedule to keep your starter healthy and active.
A large starter will result in more sourdough discard. Likewise, a small sourdough starter will result in less discard.
I create and maintain a small sourdough starter, which reduces waste. This minimizes the amount of discard I throw away or keep on hand. A small starter requires less flour and water to feed it, thus resulting in less discard.
For example, I typically maintain my starter with 5 grams of starter, 30 grams of flour, and 30 grams of water. When the starter doubles in size, I discard all but 5 grams and repeat with the same refreshment of flour and water.
If need more starter for a recipe, I build it up by discarding less and feeding it more flour and water.
In short, to reduce sourdough discard, maintain a small sourdough starter.
How Do You Store Sourdough Discard?
Store sourdough discard in the refrigerator in a sealed container, like a reusable deli container or a Mason jar.
Refrigeration slows down fermentation to a halt and the discard will not rise anymore. The discard has not been fed and thus will not continue to rise.
Additionally, you can store discard in the freezer in a freezer-safe container or ziplock bag. However, I generally don’t recommend freezing discard, unless you need a large amount of it to use for multiple recipes in the future.
I do not store discard at room temperature as it degrades quickly.
How Long Can You Store Sourdough Discard?
You can store sourdough discard in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. However, I recommend using it within the first week of storage.
Over time, the discard becomes extremely acidic and lends a very sour and unpleasant flavor to baked goods or recipes where applied.
It’s possible that a thin layer of brown or black liquid develops on top of the discard while it is stored. This layer of liquid is called “hooch” and is safe to stir into the starter or pour out. Hooch is simply a liquid byproduct (mostly alcohol) of fermentation and is completely normal.
While you can store sourdough discard for longer than two weeks, I toss it after that time to avoid the unpleasant sour flavor. If there is ever mold growing on your discard or it smells bad, throw it away immediately and do not consume.
What Can You Make with Sourdough Discard?
I have many sourdough discard recipes and use discard in a plethora of savory and sweet applications.
Since discard does not have the leavening power of sourdough starter, I typically use it in conjunction with other mechanical leavening agents like baking soda and baking powder.
Some of my favorite sourdough discard recipes include:
Sourdough Discard Chocolate Chip Cookies
Learn how to bake the best sourdough discard chocolate chip cookies with this easy recipe! The cookies have crispy edges and gooey pools of chocolate throughout.
Check out this recipe
Sourdough Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
These Sourdough Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins are incredibly moist using pumpkin puree and sourdough discard, with a tangy cream cheese filling. This Starbucks copycat recipe is so easy to make and comes together in less than 30 minutes!
Check out this recipe
Sourdough Pie Crust
Making an extra flaky Sourdough Pie Crust is so easy! This foolproof recipe makes the flakiest Sourdough Pie Crust that can be used for both savory and sweet applications.
Check out this recipe
Sourdough Pumpkin Waffles
Sourdough Pumpkin Waffles are easy to make and the perfect cozy fall breakfast. These sourdough waffles are spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, and use sourdough starter (active or discard) and buttermilk for a slight tanginess. The sourdough waffles are light and fluffy due to folding in whipped egg whites.
Check out this recipe
Sourdough Biscuits with Cheddar and Chives
This Sourdough Biscuits recipe is so easy to make and comes together in 30 minutes! The fluffy and flaky sourdough biscuits have a great tang from buttermilk and sourdough starter. With a favorite biscuit combo of cheddar and chives, these are the best sourdough biscuits!
Check out this recipe
Sourdough Banana Bread with Chai Spices
This easy Sourdough Banana Bread uses five bananas and warming chai spices for the most delicious treat! You can use active sourdough starter or sourdough discard for this banana bread recipe.
Check out this recipe
Sourdough Zucchini Bread
Sourdough Zucchini Bread is the perfect summer snacking cake. This moist and easy to make zucchini bread is spiced with ginger and balanced with tangy sour cream and sourdough starter for a delicious treat.
Check out this recipe
Sourdough Strawberry Shortcakes
Indulge in the perfect summer dessert with this easy sourdough strawberry shortcakes recipe featuring flaky, buttery biscuits, whipped cream, and strawberries. While there are three components to this recipe, they're each quite simple to make and the strawberries and whipped cream can be made as the shortcakes freeze and bake. The sourdough shortcakes also be made and frozen in advance.
Check out this recipe
Sourdough Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
These easy Sourdough Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Salted Maple Buttercream are made with real pumpkin puree, sourdough discard, and pumpkin spices. The maple buttercream is sandwiches between two soft cake-like cookies for a perfect fall treat.
Check out this recipe
Sourdough Pop Tarts
These gourmet Sourdough Pop Tarts feature a flaky sourdough rough puff pastry with fruity jam centers and adorned with a colorful glaze and rainbow sprinkles.
Check out this recipe
Sourdough Honey Cornbread
Sourdough Honey Cornbread is cooked in a cast iron skillet for crispy edges and a moist center. The sourdough cornbread is sweetened with honey and makes the perfect side for any gathering.
Check out this recipe
Sourdough Sweet Potato Biscuits
These tender and flaky Sourdough Sweet Potato Biscuits have lots of layers! They're made with sourdough discard, mashed sweet potatoes, and buttermilk to make a fluffy Southern-style sourdough biscuit. They make an excellent fall breakfast slathered in hot honey butter!
Check out this recipe
Sourdough Apple Fritters
These old-fashioned Sourdough Apple Fritters are so easy to make and require no proofing! They come together in 30 minutes and are filled with juicy apples and spices.
Check out this recipe
What Does Sourdough Discard Taste Like?
In baked goods, sourdough discard is similar to using buttermilk, sour cream, kefir, or yogurt in a recipe. For example, in my Sourdough Biscuits with Cheddar and Chives or Sourdough Sweet Potato Biscuits recipes, the discard is used in tandem with buttermilk for tanginess.
Depending on how fresh the discard is, sourdough discard tastes acidic, sour, and tangy. If recent, it may have a yeasty taste or smell to it and still be bubbly.
On the other hand, the older the sourdough discard is, the more acidic it becomes. Old sourdough discard is runny, slimy, and may smell like alcohol due to the fermentation byproducts and the starter being hungry. Hence, why I recommend using discard in a week so the flavor doesn’t affect recipes.
At 100% hydration, sourdough discard is 50/50 water and flour. Subtract the percentage of hydration and flour from a recipe if modifying a recipe to add discard.
Can You Make Bread with Sourdough Discard?
Technically, yes, but with some caveats.
It’s always best to use your sourdough starter at its peak for the best leavening performance. This is when the starter is at its peak or within a few hours after. Slowly, the performance degrades as the starter ferments longer and runs out of food.
However, sometimes you may forget to feed your starter, not have enough, or remember you have some discard that’s about to expire in the refrigerator.
If the discard is less than two days old and refrigerated, then you can likely use it in place of sourdough starter in a recipe. The leavening might take longer, and the loaf may taste sour.
For older discard, build a levain (an offshoot of your starter), and use the entire levain in the recipe in place of the starter. That will give you a sense of the leavening power of the discard without compromising your bread. Essentially, build another starter using the discard so you can gauge its capabilities.
I find sourdough discard is more forgiving in loaf bread recipes like Sourdough Sandwich Bread than an artisan-style country loaf like My Everyday Sourdough Bread Recipe.
Can You Feed Discard to Make a Starter?
Generally, yes. Sourdough discard is a hungry sourdough starter that hasn’t been refreshed.
You can build a new sourdough starter using sourdough discard and feeding it as you typically would for a few days. Once functioning and consistently rising and falling, you can use it in recipes as a new sourdough starter.
However, if the new starter fails to rise or double in size after a few days, it likely is not strong enough to leaven bread.
Can Sourdough Discard be Composted?
Yes, you can compost sourdough discard or sourdough starter!
Do not pour sourdough starter or discard it down the drain as it can clog your pipes when it dries.
Chickens will also gladly consume discard as a probiotic snack. Dry it first and feed it like a grain.
Sourdough Discard Recipes You May Enjoy:
Sourdough Blueberry Yogurt Muffins
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Sourdough Ladyfingers
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Sourdough Black and White Cookies
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Using sourdough discard and fresh strawberries, these Sourdough Strawberry Scones are tender, moist, and bright!…
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Sourdough Irish Soda Bread
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Use sourdough discard to make this easy Sourdough Irish Soda Bread with step-by-step photos! This…
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Sourdough Buckwheat Pancakes
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These quick and easy Sourdough Buckwheat Pancakes are fluffy with crispy edges! Easy to make…
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Sourdough Bran Muffins
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These old-fashioned Sourdough Bran Muffins are full of fiber and not too sweet. They’re extremely…
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Sourdough Tahini Honey Cookies
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Make these easy Sourdough Tahini Honey Cookies that come together in less than 30 minutes!…
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Sourdough Snickerdoodle Cookies
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Make these soft and chewy Sourdough Snickerdoodle Cookies with or without cream of tartar! They’re…
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Sourdough Chocolate Peppermint Whoopie Pies
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These Sourdough Chocolate Peppermint Whoopie Pies encase peppermint buttercream and are rolled in crushed candy,…
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Brown Butter Sourdough Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
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Soft and chewy, these Sourdough Oatmeal Raisin Cookies have a nutty, caramelized flavor from brown…
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Sourdough Frosting
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This silky smooth sourdough frosting is less sweet than traditional buttercreams and made with a…
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Sourdough Gingerbread Cake with Cranberries
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This festive old-fashioned Sourdough Gingerbread Cake is studded with cranberries for bursts of bright flavor….
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Sourdough Corn Muffins
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These soft Sourdough Corn Muffins are sweetened with honey and come together in less than…
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Sourdough Apple Cider Donuts
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Homemade Sourdough Apple Cider Donuts have the perfect balance of tangy and sweet with a…
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Sourdough Sweet Potato Biscuits
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These Sourdough Sweet Potato Biscuits are incredibly tender and flaky with lots of layers! The…
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Sourdough Pumpkin Scones
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These Sourdough Pumpkin Scones are so easy to make, tender, and flaky. With a pumpkin…
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Sourdough Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
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Make these easy Sourdough Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Salted Maple Buttercream that bake in just…
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Sourdough Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread
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This easy Sourdough Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread is made with real pumpkin, pumpkin spices, and…
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Sourdough Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
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These easy Sourdough Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins are made with real pumpkin, pumpkin spices, and…
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Sourdough Apple Fritters
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These old-fashioned Sourdough Apple Fritters are so easy to make and require no proofing! They…
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Sourdough Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake
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This Sourdough Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake features a zesty burst of citrus and the…
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Sourdough Pop Tarts
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These gourmet Sourdough Pop Tarts feature a flaky sourdough rough puff pastry with fruity jam…
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Sourdough Discard Chocolate Chip Cookies
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These Sourdough Discard Chocolate Chip Cookies have crispy edges, gooey chocolate centers, and a perfect…
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Sourdough Strawberry Shortcakes
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Indulge in the perfect summer dessert with this easy sourdough strawberry shortcakes recipe featuring flaky,…
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