Sourdough Discard Bread Machine Recipe - Using Bread Machine Start to Finish
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If you've been looking for a sourdough discard bread machine recipe, this recipe is for you! Making sourdough in a bread maker is possible with some adjustment.
This recipe is for making sourdough discard sandwich bread in a bread maker from start to finish.
If you have a bread maker, you might wonder if it's possible to make sourdough bread in it.
The short answer is - no you cannot bake "traditional sourdough" in your bread machine. However, with a few tweaks you can bake a tasty sourdough discard sandwich loaf - from start to finish - in a basic bread maker.
Creating a Sourdough Discard Bread Machine Recipe
I have clicked on many "bread machine sourdough" recipes - only to be disappointed because they aren't really cooking the sourdough in the bread maker. They are just using the bread machine for the mixing and kneading (similar to how you'd use a stand mixer).
Now there's nothing wrong with this - I've even written this article on using your bread machine for traditional sourdough bread (it just can't handle the process from start to finish).
But as a busy mama to 3 boys, I needed to find a sourdough bread machine recipe that I could load the night before and wake up to fresh sourdough bread. Not a big ask, right?
Well, it is possible - but there are a few caveats.
A basic bread machine will not be able to bake a traditional sourdough loaf from start to finish. There are few reasons for this:
- the settings on a basic bread maker are programmed to rise commercial yeast and they are too short for wild sourdough yeast.
- the bread maker cannot shape and tension your dough like you can by hand.
Newer, fancier models of bread machines like this one can make sourdough bread, however it will still be a sandwich style rather than a traditional sourdough loaf.
With this mind, I set about creating a sourdough discard bread machine recipe that could be made, from start to finish in a bread maker.
All you have to do is add the ingredients and the bread maker will do the rest.
Sounds good? I promise it is tasty!
How Is Sourdough in a Bread Maker Possible?
Now, as I explained earlier, traditional sourdough in a bread maker is not possible due to the shorter rising cycles based on commercial yeast.
So, in order to make sourdough in a bread maker, you will need to use some commercial yeast. I generally use 7g, however you can experiment and you may be able to get away with less. It's fun to experiment, right?
You still add your sourdough starter to the mixture when you load the bread maker. It's up to you whether you use fed or unfed starter (discard).
Because you are using some added dried yeast, using discard is totally ok (and in fact it's a great way to use it up).
I find this bread is a convenient way to add some sourdough goodness to a fast loaf. It's hands off - which suits me mid week when I'm juggling kids, farm life, writing and general mama duties!
Type of Bread Machine for Sourdough Bread
When developing this recipe I used a Panasonic Bread Maker. It is not fancy, just a basic bread maker with a range of settings that are unfortunately not customisable.
But I am able to make a successful sourdough discard sandwich loaf in this bread machine.
If you are interested in buying a bread machine specifically for sourdough, these two options have sourdough functions and can be programmed to suit sourdough rising cycles.
This means you would not need to use commercial yeast.
Breville BBM800XL Custom Loaf Bread Maker
Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus
Tips for Making Bread Machine Sourdough
Bread Machines often get a bad rap for making sub par loaves, however there are a few things you can do to ensure you get the best possible loaf of sourdough discard bread from a bread maker.
- Add the water and other liquids into the pan first, then add dry ingredients on top. This helps ensure that the bread machine doesn't leave any flour unmixed. If there are patches of flour or unmixed dough, scrape the sides of the pan down with a silicone spatula.
- You can use All Purpose flour for a sandwich loaf - it has a lower protein content which is perfect to achieve the texture of sandwich bread. Bread flour is perfectly fine too - but you will get a softer texture with All Purpose flour.
- Don't be afraid to check on your dough through the process (if you're not sleeping). Open the lid! Trust me, you want to see that dough being kneaded, it's like a little monster! Don't be afraid to add extra liquid or flour if you think the dough needs it.
- Learn your bread maker's cycle and check the shape of your dough before it rises. Don't be afraid to take the dough out and reposition it. If the dough looks too loose or like it's not going to fill the whole pan, I take it out, shape it and pop it back in.
- You can even add some fancy twists or score your dough once you learn your machine's timing! Run your machine a few time while you're home so you take note what functions it performs and at what time intervals during the machine's dough preparation cycle. This way you can intervene if you want/need to.
- If you are able to (and you're not sleeping) take the paddle out of the pan before your bread bakes so you don't get the hole - unless you have this bread machine which automatically lowers the paddle for you - cool right?
- When you take your sourdough discard loaf out of the bread machine, remove it from the pan and then place it back inside the machine, with the lid slightly ajar for air flow. This will ensure your bread maker sourdough loaf doesn't get a wrinkled crust as it cools. Never let it cool inside the pan with the lid closed.
Ingredient Variations
While this sourdough discard loaf made in a bread machine uses very basic ingredients (flour, water, salt, sugar and butter) - you can add other flavors and additions to create different loaves:
- Honey Oat Loaf - Add 30g of honey to the ingredients (you can then leave out the sugar). Then when the bread is rising, spray the top with water and sprinkle with rolled oats.
- Country Grain Loaf - Add 100g of your favorite seeds to ingredients (seeds like flax, sunflower, chia, poppy, sesame and oats work really well). This will give you a light country grain loaf.
- Whole Wheat Loaf - Swap 250g of All Purpose or Bread Flour for 250g of whole wheat flour for a soft, whole wheat sourdough sandwich loaf.
If you have got a bread machine tucked at the back of the cupboard, I hope this inspires you to get it out and try this sourdough discard bread maker recipe.
And remember, if you'd prefer to make a traditional sourdough bread with the help of your bread machine, this recipe will show you how.
The following recipe is based on my Pantry Mama Easy Sourdough Discard Sandwich Bread Recipe.
Further Reading
If you loved this recipe, you might like these ideas:
- Have you ever thought about making sourdough pasta? You'll find a full guide on how to make sourdough pasta here.
- For more quick sourdough recipes, check out these No Wait Sourdough Recipes for easy, fast and delicious ways to use your sourdough starter.
Sourdough Discard Bread Machine Recipe
Equipment
- Bread Machine
Ingredients
- 260 g Water
- 500 g All Purpose Flour or Bread Flour
- 100 g Sourdough Discard
- 40 g Butter
- 20 g Sugar
- 7 g Dried Yeast
- 10 g Salt
Instructions
- Add all of your ingredients into the pan of your bread machine. It's easier if you add the liquid first and then the dry ingredients on top. It makes it easier for the bread maker to knead the dough.
- Depending on your bread machine and how quickly you want your bread, select a setting for your loaf. You can use the full program or the express program. If you are able to select the size of the loaf, go for "extra large" and set the crust to dark so you get a nice crunchy crust.
- If you can, remove the paddle from your pan before the bread starts to bake - this will ensure you don't get the hole in your bread where the paddle sits.
- Once your sourdough discard loaf has finished baking, remove from the pan as soon as possible to avoid it sweating. Place the bread back into the machine with the lid ajar for air flow to avoid a wrinkled crust.
I am new to the sour dough starter world. I have an Oster Bread Machine and I would love to know how to make sour dough bread from start to finish and not use yeast. Is there such a way?
I’m trying to understand the health benefits of sour dough bread and does it cancel out of yeast is added?
I’ve had mixed results with this loaf, some times it ends up overflowing and touching the lid of the bread machine, other times it’s great. I can’t figure out why, I’ve made sure to use the correct amount of yeast, used discard from the fridge and straight from the jar on the side, used a delay setting on the bread machine and also done it straight away. Any advice would be welcomed because it seems to be luck at this point! (Always tastes delicious but it’s a pain to get it out of the pan when it’s overflowing!!)
Fantastic. I probably should have decreased the sourdough discard starter from 100g to 75g or 50g as it rose to the top of the bread machine pan and became mushroom shaped at the top after overflowing. However that was an issue with the size of my bread machine and not the recipe. The taste was great. My wife was happy that we did not waste sourdough discard. Will definitely reuse this recipe. 5 star in my book.
I can program my bm but would love some guidance on times. A single rise of 2hrs than bake (similar to your discard sourdough boule baked in the oven)? TIA!
I bought a bread machine that's yet unused with the thought of making sourdough bread. I don't have any yeast but when I make sourdough pancakes I use 1/2 tsp of baking powder.
Have you experimented with baking powder instead of adding commercial yeast with baking sourdough bread?
Thanks for your recipes.
First time making this and I’m in awe as to how gorgeous it turned out…..even better than the bread I use to make in the machine……will be making this all the time now….Thank you …..just wish my sourdough bread would work lol
I’m so confused I followed the recipe to the letter and my bread didn’t even rise:(
Hello I have the Breville custom loaf how long do you let it rise for and what bake setting do you recommend?
Haven't tried the recipe yet, but plan to. Hoping this one will work for me. Haven't been successful in making SD bread in a Bread Machine as yetm
I am wondering what size pan the recipe is intended for. Is it a 1 lb, 1.5 lb, 2 lb loaf? I have a 3lb loaf pan (Westbend). Wondering if I need to modify the ingredients & by how much.
Bread turned out delicious! One question, both of the times that I have made it using the sourdough setting on my machine (about 6 hours), the bread rises to the top and almost overflows the basket. Still tastes delicious. How do I prevent this?
**I have a Frigidaire bread maker
When using the bread machine recipe is the butter melted or room temperature
How do I figure out what the calories are per slice?
Hi,
I have made this before and LOVED this recipe!!
Could I take it out before its ready to bake & put it in a loaf pan in the oven? What would you recommend for rise time & cook time/temp?
Thank you!
Great recipe, the first ever I have tried. How would I set my bread machine program to handle sourdough ? Mine has a custom setting, but what would be the ideal settings for ferment, bake, etc times?
Can you use active starter instead of discard? If so, how much and does that change the recipe at all? I’ve been doing great w my oven but have not had great success with my newly purchased cuisinart bread machine 🙂
Thanks!
I am trying this recipe in my bread machine for the first time but wondering if you have used the dough cycle with this one then baked in the oven? I am going to try and see how it turns out but would be very interesting to hear if you or anyone else have tried?
Thank you
What is the schedule for the starter if you've had it in the fridge?
Tried this on the "express" 2lb setting for my bread machine, but it did not come out at all... It's a solid lump and not cooked thoroughly. I think it's a good recipe (I ate the ends), but I need a longer rising and cooking cycle next time. Just commenting here so that other people can hopefully avoid my mistake 🙂
I’m so excited to make the whole wheat version soon! Do I cube the butter or melt it before adding the the bread machine? Thank you!
RE THE ZOJIRUSHI BREAD MACHINE & MISLEADING CLAIMS:
Despite what Zojirushi claims, it is not sourdough that can be made in this bread machine. It is a "soured" dough, not sourdough. But they call it sourdough. Their "sourdough starter" contains 360g water, 260g bread flour (yes, that's 138% hydration) and 6g active dry yeast, and this part of the "sourdough" recipe is somewhat of an autolyze where the "sourdough starter" cycle sits for 30 minutes and then is done. Instructions say "Promptly make Sourdough Bread after you have made the Sourdough Starter." Then the rest of the ingredients, which besides the basics include apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and 2 tsp more active dry yeast, are added to the "sourdough starter". From then on, it uses the the same cycle as basic white bread. I recently got the Zojirushi, partly because their marketing info said it had a sourdough cycle, and I was quite disappointed to find that it actually doesn't. It's still a good bread machine but you definitely cannot make true sourdough in it.
I made this for the first time today on a delay cycle. I used 1 1/2 t of yeast because the 7g looked like a huge amount.
It made the loveliest loaf- crisp crust, nice rise, a "light" crumb and a delicious sourdough tang to boot!
Thanks so much-it's a keeper!
I made this today in my bread machine which I haven’t used in 4 years
It was wonderful and beautiful. I have made your hamburger buns and hot dog buns and your sandwich bread ( not bread machine). I have liked ALL your recipes and I’m sure I will try more. Thank you!
Turned out great in my very old machine!
My first time using discard and my first time using my thrifted bread machine… it turned out delicious! Thank you!!
so happy to find this! If I wanted to make it a cinnamon raisin loaf, would I add like similar to a regular cinn raisin loaf elsewhere on your page, and some brown sugar? 60 g brown sugar / 100 g raisin / 5 g cinnamon? Thanks!
Hello! I’ve tried this a couple times now and each time my bread collapses- I never have had an issue with my other recipes that only use dry yeast. Any idea what could be causing this or what I should modify? Thanks!!
This is a wonderful recipe
Does it work to use this recipe and shape the loaves in pans and bake it oven?
Question…. Just now tried my old machine express baking and after 2 hours it’s not baked through. So what do I do?
How come I cannot find a baking time on here. How long?
Frustrated. Help!!!!!
Andrea
Tastes so good! It overflowed my bread pan though, if I used less yeast would it not rise as high??
Which setting is best ? Sourdough?