If you’ve been keeping a gluten-free sourdough starter, you know how quickly the discard can add up. Instead of tossing it, I use it to add a light tang and great texture to all kinds of gluten-free baked goods. From fluffy banana bread to crisp crackers and golden focaccia, these are some of my favorite ways to use sourdough discard. This post includes the recipes I’ve created, tested, and love, plus I share tips for collecting, storing, and baking with discard so nothing goes to waste!
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Before we talk about tips and delicious recipes, let’s chat about what discard actually is. Sourdough discard is the portion of sourdough starter that you remove from the jar before feeding your gluten-free sourdough starter. Instead of throwing it away, you can use this tangy discard to flavor and enrich baked goods. It’s an easy way to reduce food waste and add complexity to everything from muffins to crackers.
I have so many incredible discard and sourdough recipes. Go here to see all of my gluten-free sourdough recipes.
Sandi’s Discard Testing Notes:
I’ve tested each of these recipes using discard from my gluten-free sourdough starter (her name’s Winifred!) at different stages, from freshly fed on the counter to cold and slightly sour from the fridge. The flavor and texture can shift depending on how bubbly or tangy your discard is. Older discard brings more depth, while fresher discard gives a milder flavor and can help quick breads rise a bit better.
Need to Make a Gluten-Free Sourdough Starter?
If baking with sourdough discard sounds fun, and you don’t have a starter yet, let’s get one started! I have created an entire post with easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions to guide you through making a gluten-free sourdough starter in just 5 days! Use my Gluten-Free Sourdough Starter Guide.
You can make a starter with just flour and water, but using Cultures For Health’s Gluten-Free Sourdough Starter to kick-start the process is so much easier!
I also wrote a post outlining all the tools I use when baking with sourdough to help guide you to what you need. To create your sourdough starter, all you need is a clean jar, purified water, and flour or starter.
Why Water Quality Is Important:
I always use purified water when making my sourdough starter. Chlorine and chemicals in our tap water can kill your yeast and inhibit the starter from growing.
When to Collect and Store Sourdough Discard:
- Collect your discard before feeding your sourdough starter.
- Do not collect the discard until your starter is healthy and really established.
- I store discard in the refrigerator. You can store multiple days’ worth of discard together in a jar. This helps you accumulate enough to use in a recipe. Discard should last a few weeks, but always check on it before adding more discard to ensure it still smells and looks fresh.
- Note: If you notice a bad odor or mold growing on your discard, throw it in the trash, not the sink. It acts like cement and can cause damage to your kitchen pipes.
Sourdough Discard Questions and Answers:
What are the benefits of using discard?
- My favorite benefit of using discard is that it prevents food waste.
- Sourdough discard adds more flavor and a slight tang to baked goods.
- It gives a slight boost to leaveners such as baking powder and soda.
- When you switch your starter to a clean jar, you can use the residue from the discard in the jar to water your garden.
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Why does my discard smell so sour?
If you haven’t fed your sourdough in a little while, it starts to get a more sour aroma. When your starter is hungry, it becomes more acidic. You will also notice clear liquid on top of the starter called hooch. This is an indicator that you need to feed your starter. Older hooch can make discard more sour, so it’s up to your taste whether to mix it in or pour it off.
Can I use discard in recipes without yeast?
Yes, that is my favorite way to use discard. I add in baking soda and some baking powder to give the recipe the rise it needs.
🔑 Sandi says: When discard dries, it behaves like cement and can clog your pipes. Always throw old discard in the trash or compost, never dump it into the sink.
Delicious Gluten-Free Sourdough Discard Recipes:
I can’t wait to hear which recipes you try! I have several more new discard recipes coming, so make sure to bookmark this page so you can check back.
Did you make one of these recipes?
💬 If you made one of my gluten-free sourdough discard recipes, I’d love to hear how it turned out! Your feedback helps others (and helps me keep improving these recipes for you). ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
