Easy Sourdough Discard Waffles Recipe - Home Grown Happiness (2024)

FAQs

Why do you let the batter rest when making waffles? ›

Let the batter rest for about 30 minutes.

The resting time allows the batter to thicken and the gluten to relax so you get that really tender and fluffy waffle interior rather than chewy waffles. (Here's a good article on what's happening while batter is resting, if you're curious).

You can always use this discard by directly mixing it into a dough for baking. Your discard, as long as it's in good shape, will leaven any bread dough just as well. The discard is just like a levain you would make for a recipe. The only difference is it's the same makeup as your starter.

Instead, simply add approximately 1/4 cup of sourdough starter to the water called for in the recipe. Mix the starter thoroughly with the water to mostly dissolve it before adding the liquid to the dry ingredients. That way the sourdough is incorporated very nicely into the dough.

A restaurant, on the other hand, will have an industrial cooker with a higher wattage plugged into a circuit designed for heavier loads. If you are asking about the waffle itself, my answer will be that most restaurants make their batter from scratch. Home waffles are usually made from a boxed mix like Bisquick.

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.

All-purpose Flour

It strikes a perfect balance of softness and structure, making it an ideal choice for various recipes. Due to its wide availability and affordability, all-purpose flour is often my top recommendation for creating and maintaining a sourdough starter.

You can keep a “peaked” starter in the refrigerator for about 12 hours (sometimes more), and still use it directly in your mix. You do not need to let it come up to room temperature. If your starter is well past peak (a few hours) and visibly falling, you can give it a “refresh” feeding to reactivate it.

If you didn't discard a portion of your starter each time you feed it, two things would happen: Your starter would grow to an enormous, unmanageable size. Your starter would likely become more and more inhospitable to the bacteria and yeast we want as the mixture would become ever more acidic.

Yes you can use sourdough discard straight from the fridge, you don't need to let it come to room temperature if you don't want to. What is this? If you are using it straight from the fridge it may be a little stiff or thick, so you'll need to ensure you mix it really well.

What day can I start using my sourdough discard? ›

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.

Generally, you can substitute a packet of yeast for 100g of sourdough starter. If your recipe uses less than a packet of yeast, you can use less sourdough starter, however it won't make too much difference because of the way wild yeast works.

All it takes is three simple ingredients—water, flour, and some active dry yeast—then add some time and patience on your part, and you'll have your sourdough starter to make delicious loaves of bread.

If you have too much starter compared to the additional flour and water you're adding, your hungry starter consumes all the nutrients and then it's not as bubbly.

The secret to perfect waffles

Second, and super important- after you mix this simple batter, let the batter rest for a full 30 minutes. If you don't let the batter rest as needed, the waffles don't attain the airiness and crisp crust that makes them insanely great in the first place.

Let the batter sit for 5 minutes. As the batter sits, it'll be able to thicken, which will help your waffles have the perfect height. Pour the mix into the preheated waffle maker, and cook according to the manufacturer's instructions. In a matter of minutes, you'll have crispy, tasty, mouth-watering waffles.

Of course, you can substitute whole grain flours like whole wheat or spelt flour, but expect them to be a little denser. Cornstarch is our secret ingredient for making the crispiest waffles. Cornstarch guarantees that the waffles will be perfectly crisp and tender.

Q – Should I make my batter in advance? A – Ideally make your batter and let it rest for about 30 minutes before cooking. This allows the flour to absorb the liquid, making the pancakes lighter and fluffier.