techniques

14 Smart Ways to Use Stale Bread

14 ways to use stale bread, from homemade croutons to breadcrumbs to stuffing.

Finding stale bread in your pantry is inevitable. But that’s not a bad thing! For starters, you could revive that loaf in as little as 10 minutes. But, if it’s too far gone, there’s always breadcrumbs, croutons, and bread pudding. There are plenty of awesome ways to give new life to your hard-as-a-rock loaf. Here are 14 of our favorites.

  • Image may contain Food Bread French Loaf and Bread Loaf
    Ditte Isager
    1/13

    Tip: How to Make Stale Bread Soft Enough to Use

    Wash your stale loaf in some water, then put it in a 350°F oven for a few minutes. Yes, it will still taste stale—but it won't be rock-hard anymore, so you can slice or tear it.

  • Image may contain Food and Snack
    2/13

    Breadcrumbs

    The easiest way to use stale bread? Make breadcrumbs. You can toast them or leave them "raw," then throw them in the freezer for later use.

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  • Image may contain Food Pizza Dish Meal and Dessert
    Marcus Nilsson
    3/13

    Bread Pudding

    Stale bread will suck up all that delicious sweet custard in bread pudding.

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  • Image may contain Food Pizza and Breakfast
    @worldmatt
    4/13

    Casse-croûte

    "Take a heavy skillet, melt butter, toast one side of the stale bread. When it's toasted, you pour a little chicken stock into the middle of each slice of stale bread to rehydrate it. Then, you drape ham and gruyere over the pieces, crack an egg on top, and put under the broiler for about 3-4 minutes. It would also be great with good beef stock and brandy instead of chicken stock. Eat straight out of the pan. I had something like this in Verbier, Switzerland." —Matt Gross, editor, BonAppetit.com

  • Classic Caesar salad with whole romaine leaves homemade croutons and shaved Parmesan cheese on a gray platter.
    Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca
    11/13

    Croutons

    Toss 3 cups torn 1-inch pieces stale bread with 3 tablespoons olive oil on a baking sheet; season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Bake at 375°, tossing occasionally, until golden, 10-15 minutes.

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  • Image may contain Food Roast Animal and Bird
    Gentl & Hyers
    12/13

    Herbed Faux-tisserie Chicken and Potatoes

    Really stale bread makes a perfect roasting bed for whole chickens—a perfect way to catch all those delicious drippings.

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  • Image may contain Dish Food Meal Plant Lunch and Platter
    13/13

    Dressing/Stuffing

    Stuffing and dressing isn't just for Thanksgiving! It's also a great side for when you have stale bread on-hand.

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Danielle Walsh is the assistant web editor at Bon Appétit, and has also written for New York Magazine's Grub Street. She loves Korean food, tacos, and whiskey, and is trying really, really hard to like sardines. ... Read More
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