At The Brot Box, we believe in baking fresh and wasting less. It’s natural for good bread to get stale in a few days, but that’s just an opportunity to create something delicious! Instead of tossing it, transform your stale bread into mouth-watering dishes with a few simple tricks. Moldy bread should be thrown away immediately, but dry bread can still become a true delicacy. Explore these tips and recipes to make the most of your stale bread and reduce food waste. Explore these tips and recipes to make the most of your stale bread.
Reviving Dry Bread
Dry bread that was left out overnight or is a few days old can be revived. White and wheat bread, in particular, tend to dry out quickly. Hold the loaf briefly under running water and wrap it in aluminum foil. Preheat the oven to 300°F and bake it for 3 to 5 minutes. The water on the crust evaporates during baking and is absorbed into the bread, making the inside soft and the crust crispy, so the bread tastes fresh again.
If the bread is very dry, you can save it with another trick: Take a large pot with a lid and fill it with about half an inch (1 cm) of water. Place a small plate inside and put the bread on it, making sure it doesn't touch the water. Turn on the stove and steam the bread for about 15 minutes. This will make the inside doughy again. To make the crust crispy, you can then put it in the oven using the first method.
Toasting Bread Slices
If you have dry bread slices, the toaster can save them. Simply toast the bread like you would toast bread and spread it with a moist topping like butter or cream cheese. It tastes heavenly. Or you can roast the bread slices in the oven and make delicious bruschetta. Drizzle them with a little olive oil and top them with classic tomatoes and basil or your favorite ingredients. Bruschetta recipes are varied and flexible.
Breadcrumbs
If your bread is already rock hard, it's worth turning it into breadcrumbs. The bread – or rolls – must be completely dried out for this. If you're not sure if your bread is dry enough, you can place it on the radiator for a day. Then cut it into slices or rough cubes and put them in a blender. Blend until even crumbs form. Store them in an airtight container. Breadcrumbs are needed for many delicious recipes like meatballs or Wiener Schnitzel.
Bread Salad
Bread salad is perfect for using up dry bread leftovers and is a refreshing delight, especially in summer. Whether white bread, gray bread, or seed bread, you can make a delicious bread salad from many types of bread. The Italian bread salad "Panzanella" is particularly famous and traditionally made with ciabatta. For Panzanella, cut a stale ciabatta or white bread into cubes, drizzle with olive oil, and possibly press some garlic over them. Roast the bread cubes in the oven or pan until crispy and brown. For a simple version, serve the salad with diced tomatoes, onions, and fresh basil, seasoned with pepper, salt, red wine vinegar, and olive oil. The Lebanese bread salad "Fattoush" is also great for using up leftovers and is ideal for summer. With roasted bread, chickpeas, mint, and tomatoes, it tastes wonderfully refreshing.
Bread Casserole
You can also wonderfully use up a few old bread slices in a bread casserole. With juicy tomatoes and cheese, the old bread becomes a real treat. Simply layer old bread in a casserole dish and add fresh tomatoes, milk, cream, and cheese to make a great leftover dish. A sweet version with apples and cinnamon also tastes delightful. Use white or gray bread and layer the old bread alternately with apples in a baking dish. Then pour a mixture of beaten eggs, milk, and cream over everything. With a bit of vanilla sugar and cinnamon, the casserole is sure to be a hit.
Croutons
Croutons enhance any salad or soup. What would Caesar's Salad be without croutons? The good thing is, old bread is perfect for making croutons yourself. Simply cut the bread slices into cubes and roast them in the oven or a pan. If you like, you can season the bread cubes with salt, paprika, or herbs before roasting.
Bread Dumplings
Bread dumplings are a typical side dish for many Bavarian dishes. Whether with hearty pork roast or as a veggie version with cream sauce, bread dumplings are simply delicious. They are traditionally made from old rolls but can also use light bread or pretzels. Dark bread is not suitable for bread dumplings. The preparation is quite simple: Cut about 10.5 oz (300 g) of dry rolls into cubes and pour 3.5 fl oz (100 ml) of hot milk over them. Cut an onion into fine cubes and sauté them in a little oil. Then add them to the bread mixture. If you like, chop fresh parsley and mix it in. Season the mixture with pepper, salt, and nutmeg. If the mixture is too wet, simply add a few breadcrumbs, and if it's too dry, add more milk. Form balls from the mixture with wet hands. Fill a large pot with water, bring it to a boil, and add a pinch of salt. Reduce the heat and let the bread dumplings simmer for about 20 minutes. Once the dumplings float to the surface, they're done.
French Toast (Arme Ritter)
French toast, once a poor man's meal, is now very popular and excellent for using up leftovers. With old white bread, rolls, or toast, the dish tastes especially good. Simply whisk 4 eggs, 7 fl oz (200 ml) milk, and 2 tbsp sugar in a bowl. If desired, add a pinch of cinnamon. Cut the white bread into slices and soak them in the egg-milk mixture for about 3 minutes. Heat a non-stick pan and fry the bread slices in butter or oil until golden brown. French toast tastes great plain, with a scoop of ice cream, or with compote. It comes in sweet and savory variations. For the savory version, simply omit the sugar and cinnamon and season the egg mixture with pepper and salt. If desired, top the savory version with fried bacon, avocado, tomatoes, or other vegetables.
Bread Fritters
Bread fritters are perfect for vegetarians and incredibly delicious. Cut 17.6 oz (500 g) of old bread into rough cubes and put them in a bowl with 3.5 fl oz (100 ml) milk. Mash the soaked bread with a fork until an even mixture forms. Depending on the type of bread, you may need more milk. Then add 2 medium eggs and as much breadcrumbs as needed to form a good mixture.
How you season the bread fritters is entirely up to your taste. If you like classic meatballs, season the mixture with a chopped onion, possibly some garlic, chopped parsley, pepper, and salt. For a Mediterranean variant, you can also mix in chopped olives, pine nuts, and dried tomatoes. For an oriental flavor, add onions, garlic, possibly some feta cheese, 1 tsp cumin, pepper, and salt.
Form about 10 patties from the mixture and fry them in oil or butter until golden brown. Serve with a salad or a delicious dip. Herb quark, guacamole, or hummus are especially tasty.
Make the Most of Your Stale Bread
Next time you find stale bread in your kitchen, don’t throw it away. Instead, turn it into a tasty and satisfying meal. These recipes not only help reduce food waste but also show how versatile stale bread can be. With a little creativity, you can transform old bread into delicious new dishes. So, dive into your bread box, get creative, and enjoy the tasty rewards of these simple recipes!