5 Uses for Leftover Whey

I love Greek yogurt! In fact, I wrote a detailed blog post all about how to make your own (click here to read Homemade Yogurt). If you've ever made homemade Greek yogurt, then you know whey is a byproduct of the straining process, and you can end up with quite a bit of it.

What should you do with it? Throwing it away is such a waste, considering there are so many ways to use it!

1) Marinate Meat in Whey

I haven't personally tried this one yet, but (from what I've read), the enzymes in whey help to tenderize the meat. I couldn't find any reputable sources however, only other blog posts. It makes sense to me, since whey is slightly acidic. Whey has a pH of "less than or equal to 5.1" (Source: Handbook of Dairy Foods and Nutrition); that is around the same acidity of apple cider vinegar, which is "4.25 to 5.0" (Source: Testing the Acidity of Vinegar).

Here is an interesting recipe for a whey marinade that I plan on trying soon: Whey Moroccan Chicken Marinade.

2) Boil Pasta and Rice in Whey

This one I have tried! I've read that it alters the flavor a bit, but I haven't noticed yet. Neither has anybody I've cooked noodles or rice for. The only difference I've noticed is that the pasta is a bit more tender.

3) Rinse Your Hair with Whey

This is probably my favorite one! Whenever I do this, it leaves my hair silky, shiny, and softer than ever. Even before I gave up commercial shampoo (check out Going No Poo if you're curious about that), I rinsed with whey a few times. Whenever I did, I didn't need to wash my hair for up to a few days. Of course now I don't wash my hair at all, but I still love a good whey rinse! Just be sure not to get it in your eyes or mouth while rinsing.

4) Use Whey as a Substitute for Buttermilk

I've successfully used whey in a cornbread recipe that called for buttermilk, and even for buttermilk pancakes! I love that I don't have to go out and buy buttermilk just for a few recipes; I can use the whey since I have it on hand. I seriously recommend making French toast with whey (beat some whey into the eggs you'll be dipping the bread into). It makes the French toast slightly sweeter in my opinion.

5) Mix Whey into Your Coffee 

I always mix a few tablespoons of whey into my iced lattes. It adds another depth of flavor as well as some helpful vitamins and probiotics. Adding it to hot coffee might kill the probiotics, but it will still have a yummy flavor!

Do you have any uses for whey that I haven't mentioned? If so, comment below!