Creative Ways to Use Up Old Bread Beyond Breadcrumbs and Croutons

There are numerous ways to repurpose old bread that go beyond the traditional uses of breadcrumbs and croutons. This guide explores various recipes and ideas to take advantage of stale bread while adding a new dimension to your meal planning.

Feeding Your Dogs

Did you know that bread can be a treat for your furry friends? It's a delightful way to use up leftover bread. Just cut the bread into small cubes and give it as a treat to your dogs. They will appreciate it as much as you do.

Croutons and Breadcrumbs

For those who enjoy adding texture and flavor, croutons and breadcrumbs are excellent options. They can be made with stale bread and used in salads, soups, and baked casseroles. To create croutons, first dampen the bread with a few sprays of water from a spray bottle. Sprinkle with your favorite seasonings and cube the bread. Bake until golden brown.

If you're looking for breadcrumbs, simply bake the bread until it's golden. Place the bread in a large Ziploc bag and roll over it with a rolling pin to turn it into crumbs. Season as desired and use in recipes like meatloaf, meatballs, or sprinkle on casseroles.

French Toast and Bread Puddings

For a heartier breakfast option, make use of very stale bread in French toast. Since the bread is dry, it will soak up a lot of the egg wash, making it ideal for a slow-cooked toast. Bread puddings, both traditional and German, are also excellent choices that can be both delicious and nutritious.

A bread pudding combines stale bread with milk or cream, eggs, and fruit or nuts. Dolmio'sFrench toast recipe is perfect for using very stale bread, as it absorbs the egg mixture well, resulting in a delicious and fluffy dish. German bread pudding, or Semmelkndel, is another option. It's made by mixing bread cubes with milk, eggs, parsley, and salt, then forming into balls and cooking until golden.

Semmelkndel - German Bread Dumplings

If you're interested in a different cultural twist, try making Semmelkndel. This German recipe requires about 250 grams of stale crusty bread, 150 ml of warm milk, 2 eggs, chopped parsley, and salt. Soak the bread in the warm milk until it's thoroughly saturated, then mix in the eggs, parsley, and salt to form a dough. Roll the dough into balls and cook them in boiling salted water until they float to the surface. You can serve these dumplings with sauces like braised meat or mushrooms in a cream sauce. Any leftovers can be chopped, fried with onions, and eggs to make a delicious meal.

Roast Chicken for Dinner

If you have stale baguettes, consider using them to create a roasted chicken dinner. Rub a clove of fresh garlic on both sides of the bread slices for flavor, then cut the bread into cubes (reserving a few slices for later). Use the bread cubes to coat the bottom of a roasting pan with olive oil. The reserved slices should be placed on the bottom sliced-side down, followed by the chicken seasoned with salt and pepper. Roast the chicken as usual and enjoy the delicious garlicky bread pudding that soaks up the juices. This method is particularly flavorful and is a hit with children eager to fight for the last slice!

By repurposing old bread in these ways, you can not only save money on groceries but also reduce food waste. Experiment with these ideas and discover new favorite dishes that make use of stale bread in creative and delightful ways.