What to Do with Hard Bread? How to Soften It? Tips + 2 Anti-waste Recipes!

How to avoid waste? What to do with hard bread? How to soften it? Follow our practical advice!

If bread starts to harden, it’s because it’s very sensitive to ambient humidity. Then comes the loss of moisture: the insides of the bread become dry, hard, and crumbly. What to do in this case? We tell you everything in this article!

How Do I Soften Hard Bread So That I Can Eat It?

Times are tough for everyone, and it’s important to avoid wasting food. So it’s a good idea to put food, including bread, in the freezer, so you can eat it later. Without putting it in the freezer, once it has hardened, it will be difficult to work around this. As far as the bread is concerned, simply take it out of the freezer and leave it to rest for a while to allow it to defrost. Then use the microwave.

Dampen a Tea Towel, Then Wrap Your Bread in It

Step 1: Use a very clean kitchen towel to dampen the bread. Step 2: Place the portion of bread you’re about to eat in the towel and wrap it with the wings of the towel.

Place the Bread in the Microwave

Now insert your bread into the microwave in the position you prefer, avoiding the vertical position. Then close the microwave door. Operate the appliance for 15 seconds or so, and all should be well with your bread. The bread should have a new breath of life. All that’s left to do is enjoy it with a quality cheese or even a delicious charcuterie board, depending on your tastes.

What to Do with Hard Bread? Anti-waste Recipes

Bread is a classic, widely consumed food. Ideally, it should be eaten straight from the bakery. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible. The problem is that, over time, everything goes away, and the water contained in the bread eventually evaporates. As a result, your bread, especially if it’s a baguette, will turn into a real plank. Wholemeal bread is more likely to lose less water than white bread, which has a more limited life in the freezer. Fortunately, recycling dry bread is not really complicated. We’ve got 2 easy-to-make anti-waste recipes for you! Enjoy them for yourself!

Prepare Delicious Italian Bruschettas

Want to have an Italian dinner on a budget? Buy a good Prosecco and prepare some toast for the apéritif! You’re no doubt familiar with bruschettas, perfect as an apéritif to keep your guests fulfilled before the main course. They’re even better with fresh bread, but you can top your dry bread with a variety of ingredients, such as:

• mozzarella
• cherry tomatoes
• goat’s cheese

The list goes on. Cut thin slices of bread, top them with the ingredients of your choice and place them under the grill for a few minutes. Don’t forget to add aromatic herbs such as basil or oregano. Final touch: bathe your toast in a generous amount of olive oil, an essential part of the preparation. It’s quick and efficient! Once toasted, no one will know whether your bread was dry or fresh, we assure you!

What to Do with Hard Bread? French Toast

Once a poor man’s dish, French toast is now a popular breakfast and afternoon snack! So there’s no waste, and it’s an original and economical meal! For the classic recipe, here are the ingredients you’ll need:

• hard bread
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 20 cl milk
• 3 eggs
• butter

To prepare, start by mixing your eggs with the milk and sugar in a shallow dish. Then place your bread slices in the mixture quickly, without soaking them too much. Melt a knob of butter in a frying pan to sear them. Finally, brown the bread for about a minute on each side. For those of you with a sweet tooth, there’s no rule against adding chocolate or cheese, depending on whether you prefer sweet or savoury.

Also read: Looking for an easy garlic bread recipe? Discover 2 for a traditional and cheesy treat!