How Long Can You Store Sourdough Discard In The Fridge? (2024)
simone gerber
·2 min read
Sourdough discard, also known as sourdough surplus, is the extra bit of sourdough bread starter that you must remove from your sourdough starter before feeding it in order to prevent the starter from becoming too large. Like the starter it comes from, the discard imparts a deliciously tangy and savory flavor to baked goods; however, it does not possess the same leavening power. Just because it cannot make bread rise doesn't mean it isn't worth hanging onto though — there are a multitude of ways to use your sourdough discards, so be sure to store yours rather than throwing it into the trash.
Sourdough discard only lasts a day or two at room temperature. As such, it is best to keep your discard in the fridge, where it will last for up to one week. Of course, you can only rely on it lasting that long if you store it correctly. When readying your discard for the fridge, be sure it is sealed in an airtight container, such as a screw-top glass jar. This will prevent exposure to air and moisture as well as keep the discard from absorbing any strong odors that are present in your refrigerator.
Even when refrigerated, sourdough discard will eventually go bad. It is important to always check your sourdough discard for signs of spoilage in order to prevent adding an unpleasant flavor to foods — or worse, consuming harmful pathogens. Be sure to examine your discard with your senses of sight and smell. If the discard shows spots of discoloration or visible mold growth or if it develops an excessively strong and unpleasant acidic smell, then it should be deemed expired and be thrown away.
If one week is not enough time to use all of the sourdough discard in your possession, it is possible to freeze the leftovers for later use. To do so, simply put the discard into a sealable container, like a zip-top bag, and place it in the freezer. There, it will last almost indefinitely until you thaw it. For this reason, it is best to portion out the discard into single-use amounts by separating it in an ice cube tray or into individual bags. This way, you can use what you need — whether you are making fresh sourdough pancakes or chewy sourdough chocolate chip cookies — while preserving the remainder for a long time.
You can store mature sourdough discard in the refrigerator indefinitely. As long as there is no mold, it is good to use. It may develop a grayish liquid on top called “hooch” which can be poured off before use or stirred in.
To revive, take your jar out of the fridge and let it sit on the counter for an hour or two to warm up. The mixture may or may not be bubbly like mine below, but either way, stir it so everything is reincorporated.
Even when refrigerated, sourdough discard will eventually go bad. It is important to always check your sourdough discard for signs of spoilage in order to prevent adding an unpleasant flavor to foods — or worse, consuming harmful pathogens.
The longer you leave your dough in the refrigerator, the more sour and complex flavors it will develop. You can easily leave a loaf in the refrigerator for 3 days before baking. I've gone as long as 5 days, but you will see some deterioration of the loaf after Day 3.
If you want to avoid wasting that flavorful discard, it can be stored on the counter for 1-2 days, in the fridge for about a week, or even in the freezer for months! Room temperature discard needs to be used more quickly or the sour flavor may become overwhelming.
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.
Discard it: As the name suggests, you can literally discard it. ...
Use it immediately for baking: If you are going to bake something right away (same day), you can keep the discard at room temperature until you're ready to bake.
Do I have to discard my sourdough starter? It would be best if you discarded some portion of your starter each time you feed it unless you want to continue to let it grow. Eventually, you need to discard the used “food” (flour and water) that's been used to sustain your starter during the last fermentation period.
It's pretty easy to tell when sourdough bread has gone bad because it will be covered in visible signs of mold growth and will feel hard both inside and out. It may also smell bad too, but not always. Once it's past the fresh stage (first 24 hours) you will notice some deterioration in crust and crumb.
In conclusion, sourdough discard is a versatile, flavourful, and healthy ingredient that can enhance a wide range of recipes. By incorporating it into your cooking, you not only reduce food waste but also elevate the taste and nutritional value of your meals.
Place your discard starter in a large bowl and add cold water, stirring to thin it to the consistency of milk; then pour it down the drain, flushing the drain with additional cold water. Will sourdough starter hurt your septic system? No, it shouldn't; it's simply organic matter and yeast.
How do I store sourdough discard? You can store mature sourdough discard in the refrigerator indefinitely. As long as there is no mold, it is good to use. It may develop a grayish liquid on top called “hooch” which can be poured off before use or stirred in.
The most important thing to know is that you should never store sourdough in your fridge. The inside of a fridge is a very harsh environment that's much too cold and dry to store bread in. Your sourdough will get hard and stale much faster in the fridge than if you leave it out.
Note: As loaves begin to overproof they lose their height and shape. The crumb becomes more dense.The holes become more ragged and irregular in shape.The crust begins to thin and separate from the crumb.
How long will sourdough starter last in the fridge? If you've fed your starter before placing it into the fridge, it should be able to last 2 weeks comfortably without feeding. The starter will still be in good condition if just left for this amount of time.
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Introduction: My name is Duncan Muller, I am a enchanting, good, gentle, modern, tasty, nice, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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