What can you make from regular and stale bread?

How to soften stale bread - and is it possible to soften bread in the microwave?

Bread goes stale in just a couple of days, so some people prefer to throw away the stale product or make crackers. Few people know that you can soften stale bread in the microwave or oven. If you don’t have such equipment in your kitchen, then don’t despair, since you can even bring bread back to life with the help of a water bath.

Softening bread using the microwave

It is necessary to use the microwave only if the product will be eaten immediately. If you leave the bread to be stored, after a short amount of time it will turn to stone again.

Stale bread must be cut into pieces no more than 2 cm thick and lightly sprinkled with water.
Place a container of water in the microwave, place the pieces of the product there and heat for one minute.
If the process is being carried out for the first time, then it is better to check the condition of the bread every 20 seconds.

To better retain moisture, you can cover the product with a special plastic lid, which is designed for a microwave oven.

The main thing is not to overcook the product, because if you heat it for a long time, you will end up with crackers instead of soft, crispy bread.

There is another way to soften bread in the microwave. It is necessary to moisten a kitchen paper towel in water, squeeze it out as much as possible and wrap it around the stale product. Next, you should place the bread in the microwave for 15 or 20 seconds. A damp towel will add more moisture and help trap steam inside the loaf better.

How to refresh bread in the oven

There are two ways to refresh stale bread in the oven. The methods will not return the product to its original texture and aroma, but will help refresh it and make it edible.

Preheat the oven to a temperature of 140-150°C, cover a baking tray with baking paper and evenly arrange the pieces of bread on it. The product must also be sprinkled with water, or better yet, covered with a damp kitchen towel or wrapped in foil. Keep in the oven for 5 minutes.

You can soften bread only if it is in good condition and there are no signs of mold. Even if there is no visible plaque, but there is a musty smell, then it is categorically not recommended to use such a product.

If sliced bread has dried out, you can restore it with hot water and high temperature. The method is suitable if the product is very stale. First of all, you need to heat the oven to 160 °C and prepare a container with hot, boiled water. Place the bread slices in a bowl and let them soak in water for one minute. After this, place all the pieces on a baking sheet and place it in the oven for 10-15 minutes. It is advisable to keep the door slightly open, this will help achieve a better effect by allowing excess moisture to escape.

Additional bread recovery options

If the basic methods do not help, then you can use auxiliary options to refresh dry bread. Additional methods:

softening in a double boiler;
using a water bath;
paper bag method;
restoring bread in a frying pan.

Double boiler. Here you can soften a hard, weathered loaf, since the bread will not heat up much and will receive a large amount of moisture. You need to boil water in the steamer tray, then remove it from the heat, place a special basket on top and place dry bread behind it. Cover the entire structure with a lid and leave for 5 minutes. During this time, the product will soften and be ready for use.

The procedure should be carried out immediately before eating bread. After 1-1.5, such a product will again become stone, and it will no longer be possible to make it soft again.

Water bath. You need to pour some water into the pan and boil it. There should not be a lot of liquid, 2 centimeters is enough, otherwise all the slices will get wet and fall apart. Place a colander with pieces of bread on top of the pan and heat for 3-5 minutes. Periodically you need to check the condition of the slices so as not to overheat them.

Paper bag. Place the sliced bread in a paper bag and add a stalk of celery to it. The bag must be tied well so that it does not allow air to pass through, and put it in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours. After this, remove the pieces of product and celery from the bag. The stem should dry out noticeably, as it will give up its moisture to the bread.

Pan. The method cannot be called the most effective, but if you don’t have a microwave or oven, you can use it. Slices of bread should be sprinkled with water and placed in a frying pan, preheating it over low heat. The effect will appear in 1-5 minutes. At this time, it is better not to leave the stove and monitor the condition of the product.

If there is no mold or other signs of damage on the product, then it is quite possible to make it soft. It is enough to use one of the listed methods and enjoy the taste of hot and crispy bread.

French toast

French toast is a great way to breathe new life into leftover dry bread, whether the toast is sweet or savory. Making sweet toast is not difficult at all: just mix milk, eggs, sugar, a pinch of salt and dip pieces of bread into the mixture. In a frying pan with a little oil, fry the slices until golden on both sides and then serve with cinnamon, syrup or fruit. The recipe for salty toast is also simple: milk, eggs, salt. Add a little finely grated cheese here, and no one can refuse this breakfast.

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There are quite a lot of recipes with dried bread. Most of them were invented by practical Italians who know exactly 100 and 1 ways to use stale ciabatta.

Toast bread 4 slices
Figs 6 pcs.
Goat cheese 100 g
Honey 2 tbsp.
Cinnamon ½ tsp.
Lemon thyme 6 sprigs

Preheat oven to 220°C
Cut the figs in half.
Place the fig halves on a baking tray lined with baking paper, pour 2 tablespoons of honey over them and sprinkle with cinnamon. Then place the figs in the oven for 5-10 minutes until the pieces are caramelized.
Toast the toasted bread in a toaster or dry frying pan, then let it cool.
Grease the toast with a tablespoon of honey.
Cut the goat cheese into thin slices and place on toast, top with fig halves and garnish with lemon thyme leaves.

What can you do with dried bread?

Pizza

First of all, look at the condition of the bread. If it's moldy, you can't cook with it. If it has been stored loosely and only dried out, it is an excellent starting material for many delicious dishes. White bread can be used to make a quick pizza. For 1 loaf take:

– 200 g of milk; – 100 g mayonnaise; – 200 g ham; – 1 tomato; – 150 g of cheese.

Mix mayonnaise with milk. Using a sharp knife, cut the bread into finger-thick slices and peel off the crust. If it is very dry and difficult to cut, steam it first. To do this, place in a double boiler or in a colander, which is placed over a pan of boiling water. After 5 minutes the loaf will become softer.

Remove the crust from it and cut into slices. Dip each in the milk and mayonnaise mixture and place close together in a round baking dish. Fill the voids with small pieces of bread. Cut the ham into pieces, place them on top and place tomato slices on top. Sprinkle coarsely grated cheese on them; if desired, you can put a little mayonnaise on it. Place the baking sheet in the oven preheated to 190°C for 20 minutes.

Bread chips

The bread is either rye or Borodino. It should have a rich taste.

Ingredients

Rye bread—300 g;
Broth (can be cooked in water) - 1 l;
Egg - one large;
Onions (medium size) - 2 pieces;
Spices (cumin or coriander) - half a teaspoon;
Cream cheese (soft) - 100 g;
Garlic - 2 small cloves;
Salt - half a teaspoon;
Deodorized vegetable oil - for frying.

Preparation

Onions and bread are cut into cubes. Two-thirds of the bread and the onion are fried in oil until the onion turns golden.
Transfer to a saucepan and add broth or water. Bring the future soup to a boil, add salt and spices.
The egg is beaten in a separate cup and then poured into the hot soup in a thin stream.
The soup itself must be stirred at this time so that thin flakes form from the egg.
After boiling, cheese is added to the soup. With vigorous stirring, it will gradually disperse and the soup will become homogeneous. At this point, chopped garlic is added.
Cover the soup with a lid and let stand for about 15 minutes. Bread soup can be served with sour cream. You can additionally add smoked meats and green onions to it when serving.

Stale bread makes excellent baked goods. It can be sweet, used as a dessert, or unsweetened. And even a full second course.

Ingredients

Loaf – whole;
Egg - 4 pieces;
Milk -1 l;
Minced meat – 0.5 kg;
Onion – 1 piece;
Salt, pepper - to taste;
Butter - for greasing the pan.

Preparation

The loaf should be cut into slices. Scramble 2 eggs in milk, add salt and pepper. Soak the loaf in milk.
Chop the onion, add minced meat, salt, pepper, fry in a frying pan until half cooked.
Boil another 2 hard-boiled eggs, chop and add to the minced meat. The filling and dough are ready.
Grease the baking dish with butter. Place slices of bread both on the bottom of the pan and on the sides.
Place minced meat in the middle. Cover the minced meat with slices of bread. All this must be filled with the remaining mixture of milk and egg.
Bake the pie in the oven at 180⁰C until golden brown.

Using this recipe, you can prepare a wide variety of pies and casseroles. Crushed stale bread, filling and egg-milk mixture. These dishes can be served as a hot dish for lunch or as a hearty breakfast.

You can also make a snack from old bread - aromatic crispy chips. To do this, you need to cut the bread into thin slices with a very sharp knife. Then mix the olive oil with fresh herbs such as rosemary or basil, finely chopped garlic and chili flakes. Place the slices on a baking sheet, drizzle with the herb oil, season with salt and pepper and place in the oven for about 10 minutes until the chips are golden brown.

Three simple ways to make stale bread soft again

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The main rule to follow: you can only refresh bread that has become stale, but not moldy. If there are clear signs that the product has deteriorated, then you should come to terms with the fact that it cannot be saved.

Bread becomes stale as it loses moisture, so all methods are aimed at re-infusing the pieces with moisture. This can be done in several ways: in the microwave, in the oven or in a double boiler.

Breadcrumbs

Old bread will come in handy here. Making homemade breading doesn't take much time, and you can adjust the grinding level to find the right breading for different dishes.

For example, finely ground breading, which can be made from a dried loaf, is perfect for pork or vegetables. To do this, pieces of loaf need to be dried in the oven at 150 degrees for 10 minutes, and then crushed in a blender or grated on a fine grater. This breading should be stored in an airtight container.

Microwave

The fastest way to soften bread is to microwave the wet pieces. Place a small container of water there. Turn on for 15-20 seconds, check the degree of softness, then repeat 1-2 more times. As a rule, 40-50 seconds is enough for the bread to become soft. You need to check it often, because if you overdo it, it is quite possible that the effect will be exactly the opposite - the pieces will turn into crackers.

Warm salad with salmon and ciabatta

Salmon fillet 1 kg
Ciabatta 1 pc.
Tomatoes 400 g
Olive oil 5 tbsp.
Garlic 2 cloves
Lemon 1 pc.
Capers 2 tbsp.
Parsley 1 bunch
Red pepper 1/2 tsp.
Salt to taste

Ciabatta 2 pcs.
Tomatoes 6 pcs.
Avocado 1 pc.
Feta cheese 300 g
Iceberg lettuce 1 pc.
Garlic ¼ clove
Lemon 1 pc.
Oregano 2 g
Olive oil 3 tbsp.
Sugar 1 pinch
Salt, pepper to taste

Ciabatta 200 g
Cherry tomatoes 200 g
Dried tomatoes 100 g
Salami 400 g
Olive oil 2 tbsp.
Basil 1/2 bunch
Garlic 1 clove
Parmesan 50 g
Eggs 3 pcs.
Cream 100 ml
Mozzarella 125 g

Oven

In order to soften bread in the oven, you need to cut the same small pieces as for the microwave. Then wrap them in a paper towel soaked in water and place them in an oven preheated to 180 degrees. 2-3 minutes are enough for the bread to become soft again.

If you don’t have a paper towel on hand, but have foil, you can also wrap the bread in it. In this case, the holding time in the oven should be increased to 10-15 minutes. It is important to let the bread cool without unrolling the foil, then it will be truly soft.

Steamer or colander with saucepan

Softening steamed bread is another effective way that housewives know about. This usually takes 1-2 minutes on normal mode if using a double boiler.

If there is no such machine, then the usual steam bath will be an alternative. Place a colander over a pan of boiling water. Pieces of bread are placed at the bottom of the colander, which actively absorb moisture. This method is simple, but requires care: if the bread is left to steam for too long, it may become soggy. In addition, you need to make sure that the bread does not touch the boiling water, this will also ruin the result.

Be sure to take note of an elementary way to keep bread fresh 3 times longer. A little trick will allow you to enjoy soft bread for almost a whole week!

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How to soften stale bread

The smell of freshly baked bread often makes customers put several different rolls and loaves in their basket, which already on the second day lose their appetizing aroma and begin to stale. To avoid overspending the family budget and not throwing dried out food into the trash, you can refresh it, use it for croutons, breadcrumbs or kvass.

Proper storage of bread

Baguettes and rolls will remain soft and fresh if stored correctly:

Immediately after purchase, it is recommended to remove the cling film or plastic bag from the bread. After this, the product should be wrapped in linen, cotton or paper towel.
Loaves made from wheat and rye flour should be stored separately. If you don’t have a bread bin, you can make or buy special bread bags for each type of product in the supermarket. They are sewn from two layers of natural fabric, separated by perforated polyethylene.
It is allowed to keep baked goods in plastic bags. To prevent the product from “suffocating” and becoming moldy, small holes should be punched in the walls of the polyethylene with any available object (a gypsy needle, an awl or the tines of a table fork).
If you don't have a bread bin at home, loaves and bagels can be placed in a paper bag or wrapped in paper. For these purposes, you cannot use book, magazine or newspaper sheets - particles of printing ink will remain on the surface of the bread, enter the body and cause harm to health.

If the purchased loaf cannot be eaten within 2-3 days, it is better to put it in the refrigerator: low temperatures reduce the rate of drying of the product and prevent the development of mold.

Methods for softening dry bread

There are several ways to help steam bread: in the microwave, oven, double boiler, frying pan or steam bath.

In the microwave

Hardened bread can be softened in the microwave by choosing one of the following options:

Cut the dried loaf into pieces 1-2 cm thick, sprinkle the slices with water, place on a flat plate and place in the microwave oven. Cover the product with a plastic cap and set the heating power to maximum. If you don’t have a special microwave-safe lid on hand, place a glass filled with warm drinking water next to the bread. Check the readiness of the slices every 15-20 seconds. The total cooking time should not exceed 60 seconds, otherwise the product will become dry and tough.
Wrap the loaf pieces in a damp paper towel and place the bundle on a rotating plate. Turn on the oven to maximum, heat the product for 15-20 seconds.

These methods have one drawback: slices steamed in a microwave oven cannot be stored. Within half an hour they will dry out and turn into crackers, so they need to be eaten as soon as possible.

In the oven

Housewives who do not have a microwave oven in their home can refresh stale bread in the oven. For slightly dried pieces, the first method is suitable:

Preheat the oven to 120-130°C.
On a baking sheet lined with baking paper, arrange the loaf slices in one layer. Cover them with a damp textile towel or spray with water from a spray bottle.
After 5-7 minutes, remove the bread from the oven, cool slightly and eat immediately.

How to soften stale bread in the microwave or oven in 1 minute

The aroma of freshly baked bread with a crispy crust excites the appetite so much that it is impossible to resist not to eat it. However, after just a few hours it may lose all its appetizing appearance. They prefer to make crackers out of stale bread or simply throw it away, without thinking that if used correctly it can easily be made incredibly tasty and soft again.

Proper storage of bread

In order not to let baked goods dry out and keep them fresh for a long time, you should be aware of several simple rules:

After purchasing bread from a store, you should wrap it in a linen or canvas towel. In this form it can remain soft for a week.
To extend the life of rolls and loaves, you need to put them in the refrigerator. It is preferable that the temperature be at least 2 degrees - the top shelf will do. If the value is lower, the product will begin to lose moisture faster and, therefore, deteriorate faster.
To store loaves, it is advisable to use cotton bags. Between them should be laid a plastic film with pre-made holes. These bags can usually be found in supermarkets.
A great option to maintain softness and prevent the development of mold is to leave half an apple, a few pieces of sugar, a small piece of potato and a pinch of salt in the container with the bread.