Do you have a jar of sourdough discard in the fridge but aren’t sure what to make with it? Whether you have half a cup or several cups to use up, this guide will help you find the right recipe based on exactly how much sourdough discard you have.
Instead of scrolling through dozens of recipes trying to figure out which one fits the amount of discard sitting in your jar, start with how much you have. I’ve organized my sourdough discard recipes by amount so you can quickly find something to make without creating even more leftover discard.
From cookies and muffins to crackers, flatbreads and other savory favorites, there are plenty of delicious ways to put that extra starter to work.
How Much Sourdough Discard Do You Have?
Before choosing a recipe, it helps to know how much sourdough discard you have available.
If you store your discard in a Ball canning jar, here’s a little trick I use when I can’t remember how much is left.
Grab an identical empty jar, place it on your kitchen scale, and press the tare button. Remove the empty jar and replace it with the jar containing your discard. Since the jars weigh approximately the same, you’ll get a quick estimate of how much discard you have without transferring it to another container.
Tip: For the best estimate, use two identical jars and weigh them without their lids.
This is one of the reasons I love using Bell canning jars to store my sourdough starter and discard.
Jump to:
½ Cup / 120g Sourdough Discard
Have about ½ cup or 120 grams of sourdough discard to use up? This is a great amount for making a quick batch of cookies, muffins or another small-batch treat without adding much extra flour or other ingredients.
More Recipes That Use ½ Cup of Sourdough Discard
Gingerbread Cookies, Ginger Molasses Cookies, Shortbread Cookies, Peanut Butter Blossoms, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies with Caramel, Sourdough Snickerdoodles, and Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies.
¾ Cup / 180g Sourdough Discard
Don’t have a recipe that uses exactly ¾ cup? Use ½ cup (120g) in one of the recipes above, then save the remaining ¼ cup (60g) for later. Sourdough discard can be stored in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it in another recipe.
1 Cup / 240g Sourdough Discard
If you have about 1 cup or 240 grams of sourdough discard, you have plenty of options. This is one of the most versatile amounts of discard to work with, with recipes ranging from sweet treats and breakfast favorites to savory recipes.
More Recipes That Use 1 Cup of Sourdough Discard
Breakfast Favorites
Muffins & Quick Breads
Cookies & Sweet Treats
Savory Recipes
2 Cups / 480g Sourdough Discard
Have about 2 cups of sourdough discard? You don’t need to find one recipe that uses it all. With this much discard, try making two recipes that each use 1 cup (240g). It’s an easy way to use up your discard while making two completely different things.
Use It All: Pick Two 1-Cup Recipes
Choose any two recipes from the 1-cup section above to use all 480g of your discard. Make pancakes + crackers for breakfast and snacking, flatbread + muffins for a savory and sweet combination or simply double a favorite 1-cup recipe.
What Can I Make With a Lot of Sourdough Discard?
If your discard jar is overflowing, don’t worry about finding one recipe that uses it all. Instead, divide your discard between a few recipes or make a double batch of a favorite. This gives you more flexibility and lets you turn a large amount of discard into several different things.
- 360g / 1½ cups: Choose one 240g recipe + one 120g recipe
- 480g / 2 cups: Choose two 240g recipes
- 600g / 2½ cups: Choose two 240g recipes + one 120g recipe
- 720g / 3 cups: Choose three 240g recipes
- 960g / 4 cups: Choose four 240g recipes
Have an odd amount left over? You don’t have to use every gram today. Return the remaining discard to your discard jar and refrigerate it until you’re ready to make something else.
How to Measure Sourdough Discard
For the most accurate measurement, weigh your sourdough discard with a kitchen scale. Place an empty bowl on the scale, tare it to zero, then add your discard until you reach the amount you need.
No kitchen scale? You can also measure sourdough discard by volume. As a general guide, ½ cup of sourdough discard weighs about 120 grams and 1 cup weighs about 240 grams. Because the consistency of sourdough discard can vary, measuring by weight will give you the most consistent results.
| Sourdough Discard | Approximate Weight |
|---|---|
| ½ cup | 120g |
| ¾ cup | 180g |
| 1 cup | 240g |
| 1½ cups | 360g |
| 2 cups | 480g |
Can I Use Sourdough Discard Straight From the Refrigerator?
Yes! For most sourdough discard recipes, you can use discard straight from the refrigerator. There’s usually no need to feed it or bring it to room temperature first.
Give your discard a quick stir before measuring, especially if it has separated while sitting in the refrigerator. Then measure the amount called for in your recipe and you’re ready to bake.
Keep in mind that very old discard will have a stronger, more acidic flavor than fresh discard. This can work especially well in savory recipes or recipes with bold flavors, while fresher discard has a milder flavor.
How Long Can I Keep Sourdough Discard in the Refrigerator?
Not sure how old the jar in the back of your refrigerator is or whether it’s still safe to use? Read How Long Can You Keep Sourdough Discard? to learn how to store discard and what to look for before baking with it.
Sourdough Discard FAQs
No. Sourdough discard does not need to be fed before using it in a discard recipe. Unless the recipe specifically calls for active sourdough starter, you can measure the discard you need and add it directly to the recipe.
Even a small amount of sourdough discard can be put to good use. If you don’t have enough for one of the recipes above, store it in your discard jar in the refrigerator and continue adding to it until you have enough. You can also look for recipes that use smaller amounts of discard rather than waiting until you’ve collected a full cup.
Yes. You can add fresh discard to a discard jar you’re already storing in the refrigerator. This is an easy way to collect smaller amounts of discard until you have enough for a recipe.
Sometimes, but it isn’t always a simple substitution. Sourdough discard contains both flour and water, so adding it to a recipe changes the amounts of both ingredients. For the most reliable results, use a recipe that was specifically developed and tested with sourdough discard.
The next time you’re wondering what to make with your sourdough discard, come back to this guide and start with the amount you have on hand. Whether it’s half a cup or a jar that’s nearly overflowing, there’s no need to let that discard go to waste.
Save or bookmark this page so you can easily find a recipe whenever your discard jar starts filling up again.
