Stop Throwing Away Your Starter
Every sourdough baker has the same guilt: discarding half the starter every time you feed it. Over a week of daily feeding, you might throw away 700g of perfectly good flour-water mixture. That feels wasteful — because it is. The good news? Sourdough discard is a flavour powerhouse that adds tang, complexity, and improved texture to virtually anything you mix it into.
Discard doesn't need to be "active" — that's the beauty. These recipes use unfed, discard starter straight from the jar. You can even accumulate discard in the fridge for a week before using it. The only rule: if it smells like nail polish remover or has pink/orange spots, throw it away. Otherwise, it's perfectly good.
1. 🥞 Sourdough Discard Pancakes
These are the #1 discard recipe for a reason. The tang of the starter paired with a tender, bubbly pancake is addictive. They're fluffier and more flavourful than any boxed mix.
2. 🫓 Crispy Sourdough Crackers
Paper-thin, shatteringly crisp, and deeply flavoured. These are addictive with hummus, cheese, or on their own. They keep for 2 weeks in an airtight container.
3. 🧇 Sourdough Waffles
Crispy on the outside, tangy and tender on the inside. These have a deeper, more complex flavour than standard waffles. Best with maple syrup and fresh berries.
4. 🍕 Quick Sourdough Pizza Dough
Use discard as a flavour base for pizza dough. The tang mimics a long fermentation without the wait. Ready to bake in 2 hours.
5. 🍌 Sourdough Banana Bread
Adding discard to banana bread makes it moister, tangier, and more complex. The acid in the starter enhances the banana flavour.
6. 🫙 Sourdough Flatbread
The fastest zero-waste recipe. No rising needed. Roll thin, cook on a hot skillet for 2 minutes per side. Perfect for wraps, dipping, or alongside soup.
7. 🍝 Sourdough Pasta
Discard adds a subtle tang and silky texture to fresh pasta. Works for any shape — tagliatelle, fettuccine, or ravioli sheets.
8. 🧁 Sourdough Muffins
Any muffin recipe benefits from 100g of discard. Blueberry, chocolate chip, lemon poppy seed — the tang adds a bakery-quality depth that you can't get from boxed mixes.
9. 🥖 Sourdough Breadsticks
Crunchy, garlicky breadsticks that are done in under an hour. Perfect alongside pasta or as a snack.
10. 🍫 Sourdough Chocolate Cake
The most unexpected discard recipe — and one of the best. The tang of sourdough amplifies chocolate flavour the same way coffee does, adding depth without any sour taste.
Storing Discard
- Fridge — accumulate in a jar for up to 1 week. Stir before using.
- Freezer — freeze in ice cube trays (about 50g each). Thaw overnight in the fridge before using.
- Dehydrate — spread thin on parchment, dry at 75°C for 8 hours. Blend into powder. Rehydrate with equal weight water when needed. Lasts months.