If you’ve ever made Greek yogurt, you’ve been left with a ton of whey. Don’t pour that liquid gold down the drain! With everything being so expensive these days, we try to limit food waste in our home, so I’ve found several ways to repurpose my whey. Check out my ten favorite uses for leftover yogurt whey below!
Culinary Uses for Leftover Yogurt Whey
- Use it as starter for your next batch of yogurt, or share some with a friend who wants to get started with yogurt-making. Now you don’t need to save some of that precious yogurt for your next batch (or worry about some other hungry fridge scavenger devouring the last little bit without warning)!
- Use it instead of water when cooking to add additional nutrients. It’s great for cooking rice, pasta, potatoes, or savory oats. You can even use it when making chicken broth by subbing out up to half the water for whey!
- Use it instead of milk or buttermilk in recipes. Especially in yeast breads, this can add just a bit of tang to imitate that sourdough flavor (though I encourage you to get started with sourdough for the health benefits).
- Use it in smoothies. Instead of adding whey protein powder, which often contains a bunch of junky additives and artificial sweeteners, just add your liquid whey instead.
- Add a couple tablespoons to the water when soaking nuts, grains, and legumes as your acid instead of vinegar or lemon juice.
- Drink it straight for a refreshing treat! It has the tangy flavor of yogurt and reminds me ever so slightly of lemonade. A small glass of whey first thing in the morning is a great way to get some extra probiotics into your diet and give your gut microbiome a boost.
Cosmetic Uses for Leftover Yogurt Whey
- Whey is great as a toner for skincare – I use a bit on a cotton ball for my face.
- Whey is an excellent hair conditioner! Dump a cup or two of whey over your hair, comb it through, and let it sit for 5-10 minutes while you shave, wash the rest of your body, or enjoy a few moments of undisturbed bliss, then rinse it out.
Garden Uses for Leftover Yogurt Whey
- Add it to your compost pile. Or if you’re doing the dig-and-drop composting method like me, pour a bit over the composting materials before you cover your hole.
- Dilute 1 part whey with 1 part water and use it in your garden. This is especially good for plants that like acidic soil (like tomatoes and blueberries). It can also act as a fertilizer to add some calcium and magnesium to your soil.
And there you have it – my ten favorite ways to use leftover yogurt whey! What are you favorite uses? Comment below!
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