17 Uses for Stale Bread To Prevent Food Waste

Don’t throw out that stale bread! Use it up instead. Here are several ways to use stale bread and prevent food waste.

I’ve worked as a professional baker for several years and have had a constant supply of fantastic breads to sample. Unfortunately, the loaves would often go stale before we could use them up. Then there are heels and crusts cut from sandwiches. That’s a lot of bread getting thrown away

I hate to waste money, and I especially hate to waste food in an age when 14% of food purchased is thrown away. So, I got creative.

French Toast

When bread is just starting to get stale, it is perfect for French toast. In fact, in France, French toast is called Pain Perdu or “lost bread.”

Eggs in a Basket

Another great dish is Eggs in a Basket. Cut a hole in the middle of a slice and butter both sides. Place in a skillet over medium heat and crack an egg in the hole. Once the bread is golden on one side and the egg set, flip and fry until the other side is golden.

Garlic Toast

Garlic toast is simple. Spread with butter, sprinkle with minced garlic and Italian seasoning, and place under a broiler until golden.

Dried Bread

I tear bread into bite-sized chunks and place them on a cookie sheet to air dry. As long as it’s not too humid, it will dry sufficiently without molding. If it is particularly humid, dry it in a low oven and store it in an air-tight container.

These bread cubes are perfect for many great dishes:

Stuffing

Homemade stuffing, made with chicken stock and vegetables, is almost as easy as the stuff from a box.

Bread Pudding

Bread pudding is a favorite. My basic recipe is:

4 cups of stale bread
2 cups of milk
1/4 cup of butter
1/2 cup of sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp. of cinnamon.

Mix ingredients together, let it soak for 30 minutes and then bake at 375 degrees until set in the middle.

You can experiment with different types of bread or by adding seasonings or dried fruit.

Strata

Stata is basically a savory bread pudding. Leave out the sugar and increase the eggs to four. Add savory items like cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon or sausage, sautéed vegetables, or caramelized onions. This is a super way to use up random leftovers from the refrigerator.

Croutons

Croutons are so simple to make from scratch that you’ll never believe you paid for them. Simply toss 3 cups of bread cubes with 2 to 3 Tbsp. of oil, a minced clove of garlic, and 1 Tbsp. of dried herbs. Toast in a 425-degree oven, stirring once or twice, until golden.

Bread Crumbs

Make bread crumbs in a flash by tossing some dried bread cubes in a blender or food processor and pulsing until crumbled. These can be used in a variety of ways to add good texture and stretch more expensive ingredients.

Coating

Coat chicken, fish, or vegetables with the bread crumbs before frying.

Stretch Meat

Use to stretch meat when making meatloaf, meatballs, hamburgers, or salmon patties to save money while reducing fat and cholesterol.

Casserole Topping

Top casseroles or homemade macaroni and cheese.

Stuffed Peppers

Add to enchilada or stuffed pepper mix to stretch other ingredients while making a more filling dish.

Stuffed Apples

Mix with cinnamon sugar and nuts to use as the filling for stuffed apples.

Thickener

Use to thicken stews. You won’t need to make a roux as you would with flour, so this helps to reduce the fat content.

Quiche or Frittata

Add to quiche or frittata mixture to thicken and bulk up the dish. This reduces the fat per serving on an otherwise high-fat meal.

Seasoning

Toast in a small amount of oil with seasonings and add to salads, pasta, or roasted vegetables for great flavor and texture.

Cookies

Finally, here’s the weird one. Use bread crumbs to make cookies. The Tightwad Gazette published a recipe for breadcrumb cookies. These are different but yummy.

Sift together:
1 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cup of granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. of salt
1/2 tsp. of baking powder
1/3 cup of cocoa

Mix together:
1/2 cup of milk
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp. of vanilla

Combine wet and dry ingredients. Add 2/3 cup of melted shortening and 2 cups of bread crumbs. Drop by spoonful onto an ungreased cookie sheet; bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

There you have it. You are now armed with a variety of fun new ways to use up an item that would otherwise go to waste. Enjoy!

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Reviewed February 2024