WHEY does nobody use powder for any savory dishes?

March 29, 2013 2:59 PM

Does anybody use whey protein powder to cook anything savory, especially any dinner dishes? I realize this is a longshot question, but web searches haven't turned up much of anything. And again, I'm looking specifically for any successful recipes that use the whey protein powder, rather than fresh whey. Thank you, o hypothetical kitchen wizards!
posted by DeWalt_Russ to Food & Drink (11 answers total)

Not exactly savory, but we used to make pancakes with whey protein powder all the time. Just mix with eggs and fry.
posted by Lutoslawski at 3:12 PM on March 29, 2013

I haven't researched this, but you could add it to bread. Recipes for breads requiring extra protein sometimes have powdered milk as an ingredient, which is 4/5 casein and 1/5 whey, and no gluten which is your usual bread protein. I think it's there to make a more tender bread (i.e. finer crumb) but I really don't know. Couldn't hurt to try.
posted by Sunburnt at 3:14 PM on March 29, 2013

Yeah, I used to store my whey in a classy glass jar, which my roommate mistook for flour, and she made some bread or muffins or something. It's doable. When I got home from work and reached for a muffin she said "I don't know what happened, the texture on these is kind of weird" -- so it was edible but not undetectable.*

*She also FLIPPED OUT when I informed her that it was not flour. Some people are so touchy.
posted by telegraph at 3:15 PM on March 29, 2013

If anyone does, it will be this lady.
posted by emilyw at 3:16 PM on March 29, 2013 [1 favorite]

Best answer: The site has some savory recipes, but she seems to use pea powder for those. Here's her powder substitution chart.
posted by caek at 4:31 PM on March 29, 2013 [1 favorite]

I've seen whey in the ingredients for savory cracker things, like CheezIts and Goldfish. (I'm not sure if it's them specifically, but more generally.) I've also seen it in pizza crusts that are more savory and cracker like rather than bready.
posted by gjc at 4:49 PM on March 29, 2013

Best answer: I use whey powder to make a liquid to substitute for stock in a soup or stew sometimes. Just make it up like you usually would for an unsweetened, unflavoured protein shake, and add. You can do the same for the liquid in bread making.
posted by lollusc at 6:40 PM on March 29, 2013

As for the WHY, I'd imagine it's because 90% of whey protein powders are flavored and/or sweetened (with vanilla, Splenda, etc). While there ARE unflavored whey protein powders (Isopure makes one; it comes in this off-white container), they're few and far between. As to stuff you COULD make? The first thing that comes to mind is a faux meat product - seitan, veggie burgers, whatevs - mainly because they're meant to have a firm, toothsome texture.
posted by julthumbscrew at 7:39 PM on March 29, 2013 [1 favorite]

I ran whey through Recipe Puppy and it shows a couple dozen recipes using whey. I haven't tried any of them but they might give you some ideas.
posted by calumet43 at 8:42 PM on March 29, 2013

In some low carb recipes unflavored whey powder is used as a flour substitute. Usually in combination with almond flour or coconut flour because the protein helps add structure to improve the texture of baked goods. Sorry, but I can't think of any specific sites right now.
posted by monopas at 1:14 PM on March 30, 2013

Response by poster: Thanks, everyone.
posted by DeWalt_Russ at 9:30 PM on March 31, 2013