Have a rock-hard loaf of bread? Rescue it with one of these stale bread recipes—perfect for reducing waste and adding flavor to your meals.
Stale bread may not make the best sandwich, but there’s still plenty that you can do with it. Check out the following recipes, and you might just be tempted to leave the bread out on purpose.
1. Bread Crumbs
Save yourself a few bucks by turning stale bread into bread crumbs. Cube your bread. Toss it on a cookie sheet. Then, dry it in a 300-degree oven. It should feel very dry and crunchy after about 10 to 15 minutes. Then, pulse the bread in a food processor until you reach your desired consistency. Let your bread crumbs cool completely. Then, store them in an airtight container in your pantry.
They’ll keep for several months.
To make Panko bread crumbs, simply pulse the bread for less time, so you’re left with bigger crumbs. To make Italian bread crumbs, add Italian seasoning to the food processor. Then pulse it.
Ways to Use Your Homemade Bread Crumbs:
2. Homemade Croutons
Transform your stale bread into homemade croutons to top your salads. They’re a cinch to make. Cube your bread. Toss it with a little vegetable oil and your favorite seasonings. Then, bake it in a 300-degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until crispy. Then, allow them to cool, and store them in an air-tight container. They’ll keep for months, so go ahead and make a big batch.
Tip: Your bread cubes will shrink some in the oven, so cut them a bit bigger than you want your finished croutons to be.
Here are Some Crouton Recipes to Try:
- Baguette & Dill Croutons
- Low-Cal Croutons
- Gluten-Free Croutons
- Rye Croutons
3. Bread Pudding
Turn your stale bread into a reason to have dessert. Bread pudding is the perfect comfort food, and it’s really easy to pull together. Here are a few recipes to try:
- Chocolate and Bread Pudding
- Crockpot Bread Pudding
- Old-Fashioned Bread Pudding
4. Breakfast Dishes
Stale bread works great for French toast and breakfast stratas. It won’t get soggy when you add the liquids in the recipe.
Here are Some Recipes to Try:
- Breakfast Cheese Strata
- Green Chile Cheese Strata
- New Orleans-Style French Toast
- Overnight French Toast
5. Bread Soups or Soup Bowls
Use stale bread as an ingredient in classic soups, like Gazpacho or Italian Bread Soup.
Have big rounds of stale bread? Use them to make bread bowls to serve your favorite soup in.
6. Stuffing
Stuffing is a classic Thanksgiving dish. It uses stale bread well. You can enjoy it as a sandwich topping or alongside turkey.
Here are Some Stuffing Recipes to Try:
- Crockpot Stuffing
- Apple Pecan Stuffing
- Sausage and Apple Stuffing with Cranberries
7. Bruschetta
Toast slices of stale French or Italian bread, and use them to make bruschetta. It works well as an appetizer, or as a light meal.
8. Bread Dumplings, Salads or Sauce
Use your stale bread to make something you’ve never tried before. Whip up some bread dumplings, bread salad or bread sauce.
9. Freeze Your Bread
Short on time? Then, pop your stale bread in the freezer, and deal with it some other time.
Tip: Know how you plan to use your bread? Go ahead and cut it to the size you’ll need, so it’ll be ready to go when you pull it out.
FAQ: I’d Hate To Waste My Day-Old Artisan Loaf. How Can I Use Stale Bread?
Question: I’m a fan of homemade breads and artisan breads, but I never seem to finish a loaf before it gets stale. What are some ways to use stale bread so it doesn’t go to waste?
Answer: Since they’re made without preservatives or dough conditioners, homemade and artisan breads go stale more quickly than commercial loaves. But there are lots of uses for stale bread, so don’t toss that wonderful rustic sourdough just because it’s a day or two past its prime. Here’s a list of ideas, along with recipe suggestions, for using stale bread:
Bread Salad Recipes
- Tuscan Summer Bread Salad Recipe – Panzanella Recipe
- Fattoush – Bread and Vegetable Salad
- Mozzarella Bread Salad
Bread Pudding Recipes
- Mango White Chocolate Bread Pudding with Bourbon Caramel Sauce
- Bread Pudding with Whiskey Vanilla Sauce
- Green Chili Bread Pudding with Avocado Salsa
Strata Recipes
- Spinach Strata
Pain Perdu Recipes
- Pain Perdu
- New Orleans-Style Pain Perdu Step-By-Step
French Toast Recipes
- Strawberry French Toast Casserole
- Basic French Toast
- Dairy-Free French Toast
Bread Crumb Recipes
- Homemade Seasoned Bread Crumbs
- Making Bread Crumbs with a Rolling Pin
Crouton Recipes
- Olive Croutons
- Gluten-Free Croutons
- Easy Homemade Croutons
Soup Recipes
- Simple Italian Bread Soup Recipe – Zuppa di Pan Cotto
- Ribollita & Minestra di Pane Recipes – Tuscan Ribollita Recipe
- White Garlic Soup Recipe – Sopa de Ajo Blanco
Sauce Recipes
- Romesco Sauce
Bruschetta Recipes
- Tomato Bruschetta
Bread Stuffing Recipes
- Bread Stuffing
- Chestnut Stuffing
- Cranberry-Pecan Stuffing
