A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge head including a nozzle plate including at least one nozzle configured to discharge liquid; at least one individual liquid chamber respectively communicating with the at least one nozzle; at least one individual supply channel respectively communicating with the at least one individual liquid chamber; and at least one individual collecting channel respectively communicating with the at least one individual liquid chamber. The apparatus further includes circuitry configured to store, in a memory, a backflow-inducing discharge amount at which the liquid in the individual collecting channel flows in a reverse direction toward the individual liquid chamber, in response to discharge of the liquid from the nozzle; and set a discharge amount from the nozzle equal to or greater than the backflow-inducing discharge amount, to cause the liquid to flow in the reverse direction in the individual collecting channel.